Video Transcript
Most euglenas have features of both
animals and plants. Which of these statements correctly
illustrates this? (A) Most euglenas can form both
unicellular and multicellular organisms. (B) Most euglenas can both move
around and develop roots. (C) Most euglenas can get their
energy from both light and food available in the environment. Or (D) most euglenas can reproduce
both sexually and asexually.
Euglena is a unicellular, or
single-celled, organism. It is an especially interesting
organism, as in spite of being single-celled, it is able to photosynthesize much
like a plant would.
Remember, photosynthesis is the
process by which some organisms are able to use light energy and simple inorganic
molecules to produce their own food in the form of sugars. The sugars then provide the energy
that these organisms need for their various other life processes. Euglena cells can carry out
photosynthesis, thanks to organelles they contain called chloroplasts. Photosynthetic pigments, like
chlorophyll, that are found in these chloroplasts allow both plants and
photosynthetic, unicellular organisms like Euglena to capture light
energy.
Most species of Euglena are
also able to feed by engulfing food particles and even smaller microorganisms. This means that they have a backup
method of obtaining nutrients from their environment if light levels are low. This is similar to how most animals
obtain their nutrition, using food that is available in the surrounding
environment.
Therefore, the statement that most
appropriately illustrates the similarities between Euglena cells and those of
plants and animals is given in answer choice (C). Most euglenas can get their energy
from both light and food available in the environment.
