Dark Euglena Research Paper

The Animalia Kingdom of Protista, is one of the most complex kingdoms to be discovered. Its organisms are greatly complex and unique, including but not limited to Euglenoid. For this investigation cells of Euglena gracilis were exposed to one of two different environments, before being observed for structural and behavioural differences under light microscopy. The E. gracilis were grown in a synthetic pond water ( 0.06g 〖CaCl〗_(2 ),1.00g NaCl and 0.04g KCl in 1L of DI water) and placed into either a sunlight exposed transparent container, or an opaque container kept in a dark surrounding. During testing the organisms were placed into a methyl cellulose solution to slow cell movement for accurate observations. The study noticed that the protist’s anatomy, behaviour, and physiology are all influenced by the environment to which the Euglena are subjected to. Hence, it was conducted that Euglena gracilis is a mixotrophic organism, due to its ability to source energy both chemically and photosynthetically.

Discussion

Euglena gracilis are of the

The dark Euglena as previously mentioned contain mitochondria, which is responsible for converting chemicals such as oxygen and glucose into useable energy however as simple, unicellular organisms these protists rely on sourcing these chemicals from other organic compounds. As a result of the use of chemicals sources in their environment to carry out oxidative processes, supplying the cell with energy, the dark Euglena are considered chemoheterotrophs opposed to a photoautotroph that sources light energy without the use of other compounds (Engelkirk, et al., 2011). Therefore, because the Euglena gracilis cells are capable of exhibiting both chemoheterotrophic and photoautotrophic characteristic, the organism is classified as a