Download sParamecium: Paramecium is a genus of unicellular ciliate protozoa

sParamecium:
Paramecium is a genus of unicellular ciliate protozoa. It is covered with simple cilia,
allowing the cell to move. If the Paramecium hits an obstacle it moves back,
turns slightly and goes forward again. If it runs into the solid object again, it
will repeat this process until it can get past the object. There is a deep mouthlike groove containing almost invisible tongue-like cilia, which are used to
draw food inside. In general, they feed on bacteria and other small cells. The
food goes through the cell mouth into the gullet. When enough food is in the
gullet base, it forms a food vacuole in the cytoplasm, and travels through the
cell, through the back end first. As it moves along, enzymes from the
cytoplasm enter the vacuole to digest the contents. Digested nutrients then go
into the cytoplasm, and the vacuole shrinks. When the vacuole reaches the
posterior, it ruptures, expelling its waste contents to the exterior. Most
paramecia undergo cell division, binary fission, dividing the cell into two
new cells that rapidly grow and develop into the new organisms.This type of
reproduction involves no exchange of genetic material, and is a type of
asexual reproduction. Osmoregulation* is carried out by a pair of vacuoles (an
organelle), which actively ejects water from the cell absorbed from its
surroundings.
*Osmoregulation is the active regulation of the osmotic pressure of an organism's fluids
to maintain the homeostasis of the organism's water content; that is, it keeps the
organism's fluids from becoming too diluted (too much water!) or too concentrated (too
little water!).