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B2, B2.1.1
Euglena: plant or animal? (Teachers’ notes)
Euglena information
Euglena is neither a plant nor an animal; it is a protist that can both eat food as animals and can
photosynthesize.
Part 1
Plant
Animal
Plant and Animal
Neither
Has the ability to
photosynthesise.
Engulfs tiny particles of
plants and animals for
nutrition.
Contains a nucleus which
contains the DNA and
controls the activities of
the cell.
Uses a tail like structure
called a ‘flagellum’ for
locomotion.
Contains chloroplasts.
Contains a red eyespot
that allows it to sense
light.
Contains cytoplasm
where reactions within the
cell take place.
Lacks a cell wall, but has
protein bands that spiral
down its length.
Contains a contractile
vacuole which enables it
to control water levels and
prevents the cell from
bursting.
Parts 2 and 3
Students might be likely to characterise Euglena as a plant if they have spotted that the majority of the features
described above are features of plants. The other features, however, may cause some uncertainty and will be a
prompt for good discussion about the complexities of classification. Students should recognise that scientific
ideas sometimes have to be modified over time in light of new evidence that arises.
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