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Are Euglena helpful or harmful

Updated: 8/10/2023
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13y ago

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they are both harmful and helpful. when a euglenoid attracts to a substance, it helps to break it down as a saprophyte. however, sometimes the process does not work and the euglena eats the digestive enzymes so it lets out pollutants into the air.

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13y ago
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11y ago

The single cell of Euglena has a number of organelles to carry out various important bodily functions. Besides, it has other biological features which all of us must know. They are as follows:

  • Euglena has an oval-shaped body structure with a round anterior and tapered posterior. The outer part of its cell membrane consists of a stiff pellicle which enable it to maintain its shape.

  • The bright green body color of this organism is owing to the presence of chloroplasts inside its cell. However, this single cell of Euglena is different from the plant cells because it has no cell wall made of cellulose.

  • There is a long, whip like thing attached on the right side towards the front of the body. This is the flagellum which works as a propeller and helps it to move through the water.

  • The central part of the cell is occupied by the nucleus which is purple in color. It carries the DNA of the cell and is involved with several vital cellular activities. The nucleolus (plural nucleoli) present inside the nucleus can be identified with its pink color. The inner part of the cell is filled up with a light yellow-colored viscous fluid known as cytoplasm.

  • A distinguishing characteristics of Euglena is that it is both autotrophic as well as heterotrophic at the same time. In other words, it can produce its own food but it also consumes food from its environment.

  • The large number of small rod like structures that are visible in their cell are nothing but the chloroplasts. The sunlight which is required for the photosynthesis process is absorbed by them. When enough sunlight is not available, they cannot make their food. In that case, they move around in the water and eat other microorganisms like amoeba and paramecium.

  • Another interesting physical feature of is the eyespot. This is a pigmented organelle found at the anterior part of the body and is highly sensitive towards light. This adaptation is extremely important as it helps to detect the sunlight which is needed for photosynthesis. Once the sunlight is traced by the eyespot, the organism can orient its movements in that direction.

  • At the rear end of the cell, there is a star-shaped structure called the contractile vacuole which is orange in color. It helps Euglena to excrete the excess amount of water and waste from its body. In absence of this organelle, it would have suck up so much of water through osmosis that it can burst.

  • These organisms reproduce by a process of cell division known as mitosis. During this process, the cell divides into two halves and thus, two new Euglenas are formed from one. The favorable conditions for the multiplication of its cell include a warm atmospheric temperature and adequate amount of food.

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11y ago

It is in some ways as it is!!!
lol


not lol stupid kid

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11y ago

they are helpful and harmful. they are hellpful because they break down enzymes but hey are harmful because they pollute the air.

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Q: Are Euglena helpful or harmful
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