Question

When a student adds a few drops of diluted picric acid to a paramecium slide, he observes that the paramecium releases some transparent spine-like projections to protect its body from the acid. What is the significance of these projections?
a. The projections are trichocysts, released for the self-defense of the paramecium.
b. The projections are pseudopodia, released for the locomotion of the paramecium.
c. The projections are cilia, released for the locomotion of the paramecium.

Answer 1

Answer is a. he projections are trichocysts, released for the self-defense of the Paramecium.

When Paramecium is stimulated by chemicals such as picric acid or an injurious enemy, it responds by throwing out transparent spine-like projections called trichocysts. The discharge of trichocysts forms an effective barrier round the animal and protects it from acid or enemy.

Answer 2

The projections that are released to protect its body from the acid are trichocysts. These trichocysts are released for the self-defense of the paramecium.