Entamoeba histolytica soon dies if kept infresh water because-a)It has...
A contractile vacuole expands and contracts. It pumps out the water from the cell through a process called osmoregulation.
Fresh water is a hypotonic solution, osmosis will continually transfer water into the amoeba. Without a way to counteract this, the amoeba will swell to the point it bursts. To that extent, freshwater species have developed contractile vacuoles.
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Entamoeba histolytica soon dies if kept infresh water because-a)It has...
Reason why Entamoeba histolytica dies in fresh water:
Entamoeba histolytica, an anaerobic parasitic protozoan, lacks a contractile vacuole, which is a vital organelle responsible for regulating water and ion concentration within the cell. This organelle helps in expelling excess water to prevent cell lysis in hypotonic environments. When placed in fresh water, the amoeba will experience an influx of water due to the higher concentration of solutes within its cytoplasm compared to the external environment.
Consequences of lacking a contractile vacuole:
- Lack of water regulation: Without a contractile vacuole, Entamoeba histolytica cannot efficiently remove excess water entering the cell. This leads to swelling and potential bursting of the cell membrane.
- Inability to survive in hypotonic conditions: Freshwater is hypotonic compared to the cytoplasm of the amoeba. The influx of water causes the cell to swell and disrupts its physiological processes, ultimately leading to cell death.
Importance of contractile vacuole in freshwater survival:
- Prevents cell lysis: The contractile vacuole helps maintain osmotic balance by expelling excess water, enabling the cell to survive in hypotonic environments like freshwater.
- Regulates ion concentration: Besides water, the contractile vacuole also plays a role in maintaining ion balance within the cell, which is crucial for various cellular functions.
In conclusion, the absence of a contractile vacuole in Entamoeba histolytica renders it unable to survive in fresh water due to the inability to regulate water influx and maintain osmotic balance. This highlights the significance of organelles in enabling organisms to adapt to different environmental conditions.
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