Protista - Eukarya (Organisms: Amoebae) Part 02

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Classification

Classification of organisms is based on the similarities in observable characteristics and morphology. They are not a group of an organism called Amoeba, but rather Amoeba is Protozoan cells that move by crawling.

Amoeba was classified into a single taxonomic group called Sarcodina and differentiated by their use of pseudopodia before they were later subdivided based on the type of pseudopodia.

The taxonomic classification was changed due to the molecular phylogenetic for a eukaryote. As the similarities and differences in DNA sequences were compared, within organisms. Research work compared the DNA sequences that encode 185 subunits of ribosomes. Following this, Eukaryote organisms could be better organized representing the different evolutionary relationships, and the phylogenetic tree.

Eukaryotic organisms are listed into five subgroups, that is Ophiskontha, Amoebozoa, Excavata, Archaeplastida, and SAR (Stramenopiles, Alveolata, and Rhizaria).

• Ophiskontha - Animals and Fungi
• Amoebozoa - Amoeboid protists
• Excavata - Plants photosynthate
• Archaeplastida - Photosynthetic organisms

Important

Amoeba is known to be an organism that causes a good number of diseases in humans. An example is an Amebiasis(amoebic dysentery ) infection caused by Entamoeba Histolytica which is a human intestinal parasite.

Amoebas cause infection in the brain, and this disease is rare with fever and vomiting as symptoms. Naegleria Fowleri ("the brain-eating amoeba") is found in warm freshwater bodies like lakes, rivers, and a hot spirit. This Amoeba enters through the nose and moves to the human brain, it can be contracted by swallowing the water.

Amoeba is a host to bacterias that are pathogenic to humans such as Legionella, which can resist digestion when consumed by the amoebas. Most of these bacteria are resistant to treatment as they are released from the vacuoles into the cytoplasm. An example of a habitat for amoebas and bacterias can grow is a cooling tower.

To Conclude, Amoebas are predated on harmful bacterias and as part of the soil ecosystem. They regulate their population in the soils and play a part in recycling nutrients in the soil. As the bacteria are consumed, nutrients are released into the soil completing the ecosystem.