PARAMOECIUM Meaning and
Definition
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Paramoecium is a genus of ciliated protozoan organisms belonging to the phylum Ciliophora. These single-celled microorganisms are commonly found in freshwater environments, such as ponds and streams. They are characterized by their elongated and slipper-like shape, with a slightly pointed anterior end and a rounded posterior end.
Paramoecium possesses numerous cilia, which are short, hair-like projections covering the surface of its body. These cilia play a crucial role in locomotion, helping the organism to move smoothly and capture food particles. The cilia are also involved in creating water currents that bring food towards the organism's mouth-like structure, known as the oral groove.
Feeding is a vital process for Paramoecium. It is considered a holozoic organism, meaning it ingests solid food particles for nutrition. The oral groove funnels food into a structure called the gullet, which leads to a food vacuole where digestion takes place. Waste materials are later eliminated through the anal pore.
Paramoecium reproduces asexually through a process called binary fission, where the organism splits into two identical daughter cells. Under unfavorable conditions, it can also conjugate sexually, exchanging genetic material with another compatible Paramoecium individual.
As an essential component of freshwater ecosystems, Paramoecium helps in recycling nutrients and maintaining the ecological balance. These organisms are widely studied in laboratories and educational settings to better understand the physiology, behavior, and microscopic structures of complex single-celled organisms.
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An incorrect spelling of Paramecium.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PARAMOECIUM
- parameciun
- -paramecium
- paramucium
- oaramoecium
- laramoecium
- -aramoecium
- 0aramoecium
- pzramoecium
- psramoecium
- pwramoecium
- pqramoecium
- paeamoecium
- padamoecium
- pafamoecium
- patamoecium
- pa5amoecium
- pa4amoecium
- parzmoecium
- parsmoecium
- parwmoecium
Etymology of PARAMOECIUM
The word "Paramoecium" originated from the Greek roots "para-" and "moein". "Para-" means beside or alongside, while "moein" means to move. This Greek word combination was used to describe a type of microscopic, free-living, single-celled organism that moves in a characteristic jerky or wavy manner. The term "Paramoecium" specifically refers to a genus of ciliate protozoans, which have a slipper-like shape and are covered in cilia, enabling them to move through water.
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