Functions of Life in Paramecium and Chlamydomonas

In one of the previous posts, I have mentioned the fundamental functions of all living things. It was abbreviated as MRS GREN. We will slightly change MRS GREN into MR SHENG so that we can include homeostasis and metabolism as one of the functions of life.

M: Metabolism – all organisms are able to perform chemical reactions through enzymes in their body

R: Reproduction – all organisms are able to reproduce either sexually, through mitosis, or asexually, through meiosis or gametes

S: Sensitivity – all organisms are able to respond to surrounding environments

H: Homeostasis – all organisms are able to maintain their internal conditions

E: Excretion: all organisms are able to excrete their waste products outside their body so that the waste does not accumulate inside the body

N: Nutrition – all organisms are able to obtain food to provide a source of energy to support growth

G: Growth:  – all organisms are able to grow in size

Today, we will look at how two organisms, Paramecium and Chlamydomonas, perform their functions of life.

Paramecium

M (Metabolism): The cytoplasm of a paramecium produces enzymes that are responsible for chemical reactions

R (Reproduction): The nucleus divides in half during mitosis (asexual reproduction) and meiosis (sexual reproduction)

S (Sensitivity): The cilia allows paramecium to move around and reverse its direction when it hits something

H (Homeostasis): The contractile vacuole keeps the internal limits constant.

E (Excretion): The plasma membrane excretes waste products out of the cell.

N (Nutrition): The food vacuole contracts what makes products out of the cell

G (Growth): They move in all directions using their cilia (small structures that cover the whole body to propel the cell)

Chlamydomonas

Chlamydomonas

M (Metabolism): Metabolic reactions take place in the cytoplasm and are carried out by enzymes

R (Reproduction): Chlamydomonas can reproduce in both sexual and asexual reproduction (binary fission).

S (Sensitivity): They sense light changes through its eye spot and move towards the brighter region for effective photosynthesis

H (Homeostasis): It collects water in the contractile vacuoles and expels it through the membrane. This osmoregulation helps the organism maintain water balance.

E (Excretion): It uses the surface of the plasma membrane to excrete waste.

N (Nutrition):  It uses photosynthesis to produce its own food.

G (Growth): It consumes organic molecules and minerals to increase in size.

As can be identified in the examples of paramecium and chlamydomonas, all organisms – including unicellular and multicellular ones – have the seven functions of life. 

Works Cited

“Paramecium.” Kids Biology, kidsbiology.com/animals/paramecium/.

UTEX Culture Collection of Algae. “UTEX 1796 Chlamydomonas Surtseyiensis.” UTEX Culture Collection of Algae, utex.org/products/utex-1796.