Single Celled Organisms A single celled organism does everything that a multicellular organism does: think about those seven characteristics of living things!

Unicellular An organism made up of one cell. How can we remember what this word means?

Multicellular An organism made up of many cells that work together. How can we remember what this word means?

Euglena – the whipper snapper! Movement: uses a whip like attachment to propel itself Eating: make its own food through photosynthesis Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI7nEWUjk3A

Amoeba – the blob! Movement: Use pseudopods (“false feet”). They stretch out one part of themselves then pull the rest of it toward the part. Eating: The amoeba must hunt to find its food. It engulfs its food in one big gulp! Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6rnhiMxtKU

Paramecium – the furry one! Movement: uses cilia like many tiny rowers to move itself Eating: decaying matter and algae Video: http://www.linkpublishing.com/video-cell.htm (scroll down)

Volvox - A type of green algae. Between 500 and 20,000 cells live together in a colony. Movement: two flagella per cell, these make the volvox tumble Eating: They make their own food from the sun. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He9FSeGRi3A&feature=related

Tri Diagram Our next step is to compare two of these single celled organisms. You will complete a Tri Diagram on the euglena, amoeba, and paramecium. At each of the tips write two things unique about the organism. In the center write what is the same – think about our characteristics of living things!