Compare the process of digesting food in an amoeba (unicellular) to that of a mouse (multicellular).
The process of digesting food in an amoeba and a mouse is fundamentally similar in that both organisms break down food molecules into smaller molecules that can be absorbed and utilized for energy. However, there are key differences in how this process occurs in each organism due to their differing cellular structures and mechanisms.
In an amoeba, which is a unicellular organism, digestion occurs intracellularly within the cell itself. When an amoeba engulfs food particles, it forms a vacuole around the food particle called a food vacuole. The enzymes produced by the amoeba then break down the food molecules within the food vacuole, and the resulting smaller molecules are absorbed and utilized by the cell for energy.
In a mouse, which is a multicellular organism, digestion occurs extracellularly in a specialized digestive system comprised of organs such as the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Food is ingested through the mouth and undergoes mechanical and chemical digestion in the stomach and small intestine, where digestive enzymes break down the food molecules into smaller molecules that can be absorbed through the intestinal wall. These nutrients are then transported to various cells throughout the body via the bloodstream for energy production.
Overall, while both amoebas and mice both digest food to obtain energy, the process differs due to the different cellular structures and mechanisms present in unicellular and multicellular organisms.