Euglena+-+WP

=Introduction=

toc Ever been swimming in a lake or river and you see little patches of green you just pass through? Imagine millions of little creatures in that lake climbing all over you, well that's not really how it works as euglena's are not **amoebas** a brain eating cell that can latch to you, but don't go running off ignoring the euglena, how about take some time to learn about this mysterious cell. Although the euglena doesn't have a determined cell type, which actually makes it more fascinating, it does have functions and jobs in our environment and way to function is our dangerous world of predator vs prey. Did I mention a euglena's look strangely like tiny tad pols but you aren't able to see them due to them being too small see without a special scientific tool, speaking of tools scientist are actually making things out of euglena's or more say out of what they make.

=The Function Of A Euglena=

Euglenas are strange and not many people know about them but have you ever thought what that green stuff was at the top of a pond or river, yes that is more commonly known as algae but mixed in with the algae are euglenas, they may sound scary but they are completely harmless. Euglenas are part of the single celled organism family but scientist have not placed it in a definite group, like is it an animal cell? Or a plant cell? You can find euglenas in mainly fresh water, salt water, ponds, ditches and even your own pool, now don't go panic and never touch water again euglena actually help us, most euglenas eat green algae which is built up bacteria mostly found in lakes, amoeba which is a brain eating cell and lastly paramecium which are very similar to a euglena as they are both in a strange cell group that is not quite animal and not quite plant, they also make there own food using the sunlight. Another thing is the size of a euglena is extremely small you would need a microscope (a scientific instrument used to view small objects) to see them as they are only 0.024 or 0.025 millimeters (as seen on picture on the right). Lastly but certainly not least the reproduction of a euglena a very odd process to explain but too important not to, a euglena has alternating periods of growth which is a form of asexual reproduction as they soon split creating another euglena, nothing too bad we’ll get more into it as we fall into the hole of a euglenas strange structure.

=Structure Of A Euglena=

Tadpoles we all know and love them but have you ever heard of a cell that looks oddly like one well now you will cause a euglena has many features that sound just like a tadpole’s feature. **Flagella** a tail like thing that helps the euglena swim and get around, ever imagine running into one of these in the water, well don't worry because they're to small you probably wouldn't even know they're there. Continuing with the topic of euglena structure, for a single organism cell euglenas are very good survivors and good with resources such as help themselves create food and much more. For example euglenas have **chloroplasts** that help them produce their own food as i said and they also have a **contractive vacuole** that can help discharge and hold excess water keeping the euglena alive and well. Lastly euglena's have an **eyespot** that help them senese sunlight and this can help them navigate through the water. Don't forget euglenas can be very important to us in many ways.

=Euglena's And Us=

Euglena don't have many benefits to us, but scientist are making a new kind of plastic using the special sugar euglenas make called polysaccharide which is a number of molecules that consist of a number of sugar molecules bonded together. This strange substance can create a heat resistant plastic but not only is it heat resistant it also has a h igh thermal plasticity and a high level of plant-based content, at approximately 70 percent. . Euglenas are also used in cosmetics such as makeup and so on. Although scientist haven't totally completed the plastic they are close to making a new era plastic material. Although euglenas are only known for being made into a plastic there are some instances of them being in cosmetics such as face wash or cream, companies have started to use euglenas in face creams as they are aren't hazardous and have many good qualities for you skin.

=Conclusion=

If only humans had the power euglena's have, they can make there own food using sunlight and the world around them but yet still be able to eat other cells as food, if only other cells could have the strange structure of a euglena that is vital to help it survive or the cool and useful materials that euglena's can make giving us some of the products we use everyday but if you really think about it us humans and the euglena have one thing in common, one of our main functions in this world is to survive.

=References=

Works Cited Balamuth, William. “Euglena.” Encyclopedia Americana. Scholastic Grolier Online, ea.grolier.com/article?id=0147850-00. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/726807/EUGLENA_GRACILIS_EXTRACT/ http://www.pklifescience.com/article/311/6/euglena-best-of-two-worlds Jenner, Jan, et al. From Bacteria to Plants. Needham, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. “Protozoa.” BrainPOP, 2017, www.brainpop.com/science/diversityoflife/protozoa/. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. Single-Celled Organisms Cochran, 1997. Video Segment Discovery Education. Web. 30/1/2017. http://www.discoveryeducation.com.