Question

Describe the process of respiration in Amoeba. State whether it is anaerobic respiration or aerobic respiration.

Answer 1

Amoeba undergoes aerobic respiration, meaning it requires oxygen to break down food and release energy. Since an amoeba is a single-celled, microscopic organism, it lacks specialised respiratory organs like lungs, trachea, or gills. Instead, its respiratory gas exchange occurs entirely through its cell membrane (plasma membrane) via simple diffusion.

The process occurs in the following steps:

• Diffusion of Oxygen: Amoeba lives in aquatic environments where oxygen is dissolved in the water. Because the concentration of oxygen is higher in the surrounding water than inside the Amoeba, oxygen gas continuously diffuses inward through the cell membrane.
• Oxidation of Food: Once inside, this oxygen is utilised by the cell to break down glucose into carbon dioxide, water, and energy (ATP) to carry out metabolic activities.
• Expulsion of Carbon Dioxide: Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is produced as a toxic waste byproduct of cellular respiration. When its concentration builds up inside the cell and exceeds that of the surrounding water, it diffuses outward through the cell membrane.