Porifera Flashcards
What are the characteristics?
no gastrulation, no true tissues, some specialised cells
What organisms are in this phylum?
Sponges
What are the key features of sponges?
simple body plan, no nuclei, may be asymmetrical, usually hermaphrodite
What is the mode of life?
Sedentary
how do they feed?
Capture food particles through water that passes through perforated body
What is the spongeocoel?
central cavity
What is the osculum?
Exit from which water flows out of spongeocoel
what are amebocytes?
mesophyll cells that can transport nutrients to other cells of the body
How do they reproduce?
Eggs reside in mesophyll, sperm carried into water for cross pollination, zygotes develop into flagellated swimming larvae that settle on suitable substrate to develop
How are they useful in human disease?
Produce many antibiotics
