Amoeba Proteus
- Since Amoeba are bottom dwellers some may have stayed on the cover if the jar ws upside down in transit. To remove these, gently swirl the jar upside down before removing the cover and then immediately, set it right side up, unscrew the cover and place it over the jar. Let the jar remain undisturbed for 15 minutes.
- Place the jar gently under the dissecting microscope and scan the bottom for Amoeba. Food organisms may be vigorously swimming about but the Amoeba will be almost motionless if not absolutely still.
- Look at the drawings in the text and although the live Amoeba will not resemble them exactly, there should be some similarity. Debris from the disintegrating grain on which the food organisms feed may appear like Amoeba to the student hunting for Amoeba for the first time. However, after careful observation the more distinct shape of the Amoeba will begin to be apparent to you. Some Amoeba have either none or just one pseudopodium making the Amoeba very conspicous.
- If Amoeba are undergoing mitosis or are actively feeding, they tend to ball up; they are not dead or dying as one might imagine. Dead protozoa disintegrate, leaving no visible form.
- Remove Amoeba one at a time with a clean medicine dropper or similar device. Be careful not to disturb other Amoeba while sucking out one. It is imperative that a good dissecting microscope be used or it is almost impossible to find Amoeba and remove them. We suggest a good quality 20 power binocular microscope with a black piece of paper under the culture jar togive the white Amoeba ample contrast. Then illuminate them with aa gooseneck lamp using a 60 watt bulb. Your teacher may have other methods for observing and removing Amoeba in which case you should follow them.
