What is the control mechanism for an amoeba to extend a pseudopod?

Subject: What is the control mechanism for an amoeba to extend a pseudopod?

Date: Tue Feb 10 14:10:08 1998
Posted by John D. Huey
Grade level: other
School: none
City: Indianapolis State/Province: IN
Country: USA
Area of science: Microbiology
ID: 887141408.Mi

Message:


How does the amoeba 'sense' the presence of food?  Is it a chemical 
signal?  A single chemical or a class of chemicals?  Is the signal 
received at the cell membrane and a 'call to action' sent from there 
or does the signal move into the cell?  Does the amoeba sense the 
concentration gradient to determine direction or is it something else? 
 How does the amoeba know when to quit extending the pseudopod?

Re: What is the control mechanism for an amoeba to extend a pseudopod?

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