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?

Answer 1

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.

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Answer 2

The correct answer is - trichocysts

Step-by-step explanation:

The picric acid is a organic compound that tastes bitter and explosive in nature. When its dilute solution is added to the Paramecium, it reacts against the picric acid by releasing transparent spine-like projections called trichocysts for its self-defence.

Trichocysts form a barrier around body of the Paramecium to protect its body from the picric acid.