Euglena+-+MJ

=Introduction= Imagine you're a plant and your photosynthesizing. Taking in sun, water, and CO2. You can feel the chloroplasts running and moving throughout your “leaves” and "stem". And then, you realise, your photosynthesizing underwater! This is what Euglena do. They also have an interesting structure, are very important and can help people in many ways. =What are Euglena?= Euglena is a __[|Euglenoid].__ Euglenas are able to consume food and make their own. Euglenas have chloroplasts inside their bodies so that when they are in the sunlight they can make their own food using photosynthesis. But when in the dark, Euglena can also consume the smaller things around them like __[|paramecium] and [|amoebas]__. They live in ponds, puddles. freshwater, and seashore mud. They also only live up to about 3 weeks. But they can also reproduce by splitting apart, starting at the top where the flagellum is. =How is Euglena structured?= Euglena have these things called [|flagellum.] Flagella are hair like whips that act as motors for Euglena. The move in a circular, lasso motion. On the flagellum are sliding fibers. These sliding fibers are what make the flagellar move. The flagellum is attached to the __[|reservoir]__. The reservoir is the part of the Euglena used for storage. The Euglena also has an eyespot. The eyespot is light sensitive part of the Euglena that helps it detect light. The Euglena is able to make it’s own food but using photosynthesis and the chloroplasts inside its body. It gets the chloroplasts from eating green algae. For saving the food it has a __[|contractile vacuole]__. This stores the food it consumes or makes so that, if needed, it can eat the food later. And last, it has the __[|nucleus].__ == =Why is Euglena Important?= Do you know any other single celled organism that can photosynthesized and consume other organisms? Euglena can do this all. When they photosynthesized they make oxygen for other organisms so that they can survive. Euglena can also reduce carbon dioxide in the air better than any other plant can. They may be small but they do a lot of work, most of it being for other organisms. In addition, they can eat things like harmful bacteria because if and when they are not in sunlight they have to consume other organisms. =Does Euglena Help Us?= “ There are companies that are looking into using Euglena in many products because of its nutrients.” Says euglenaprotist.wordpress.com. Euglena have some many nutrients in their bodies that are required in the human body, that some companies want to and have used them for things like supplements. They also can tell us if water is polluted. Euglena thrives in places where green algae is bulging. Green algae is present when there is nitrogen in water which comes from waste. Also they don’t just eat green algae to stay green. They can also eat things like amoebas and parameciums. Amoebas can eat away at your brain, so there’s another reason to thank euglenas. In addition there is no scientific evidence of euglena being harmful to humans. media type="youtube" key="rGh_msexeus" width="439" height="270" =Conclusion= For a single cell organism, Euglena is pretty special. It’s important, can be useful to humans, and has a very unique structure. They're like tiny oxygen boats ready to give other organisms oxygen for no charge. But just because euglena are underwater doesn't mean they can't help humans. Imagine every once and awhile you take __[|supplements]__ actually have live euglena in them. It may sound gross and strange but eating euglena can be good for your body, considering they contain nutrients that are required in the human body. Imagine telling your friend you had euglena for breakfast.