Describe the process of respiration in Amoeba. State whether it is anaerobic respiration or aerobic respiration.
Amoeba has no special respiratory organs and no respiratory pigments but there is a free exchange of gases by diffusion through the general body surface which is permeable to the gases dissolved in water. Oxygen constantly diffuses into the cytoplasm for its concentration in water is always higher than in the cytoplasm. The oxygen brings about enzymatically assisted oxidation of carbohydrates, fats and even proteins and breaks them into simpler compounds. The energy liberated in the oxidation reactions is stored in the high energy bonds of adenosine-triphosphate(ATP). It results in the formation of metabolic wastes like carbon dioxide and water. In amoeba, the by-product of the oxidation of proteins is ammonia. Carbon dioxide and ammonia are excreted out by diffusion in the surrounding water as well as in the water discharged by the contractile vacuole.