Endoplasm in the context of "Radiolarian"

The Radiolaria, also called Radiozoa, are unicellular eukaryotes of diameter 0.1–0.2 mm that produce intricate mineral skeletons, typically with a central capsule dividing the cell into the inner and outer portions of endoplasm and ectoplasm. The elaborate mineral skeleton is usually made of silica. They are found as zooplankton throughout the global ocean. As zooplankton, radiolarians are primarily heterotrophic, but many have photosynthetic endosymbionts and are, therefore, considered mixotrophs. The skeletal remains of some types of radiolarians make up a large part of the cover of the ocean floor as siliceous ooze. Due to their rapid change as species and intricate skeletons, radiolarians represent an important diagnostic fossil found from the Cambrian onwards.

Ectoplasm, also called exoplasm, is the clear, gel-like, and agranular outer portion of the cytoplasm in protists, that lies just beneath the cell membrane. In other eukaryotes it is known as the cell cortex. It contains actin filaments, allowing the ectoplasm to play a significant role in cellular movement and shape. In contrast, the endoplasm is the inner portion of the cytoplasm located between the ectoplasm and the nuclear envelope that contains most of the cell's organelles and is metabolically active. Ectoplasm's dynamic nature, facilitated by actin and myosin interactions, contributes to cellular processes such as spindle formation during cellular division, amoeboid movement. slime mold flow networks, The differentiation of cytoplasm into ectoplasm and endoplasm is also regarded as a milestone in cellular evolution.

The term "ectoplasm" originates from the Ancient Greek words ἐκτός (ektos), meaning "outside," and πλάσμα (plasma), meaning "anything formed." In most eukaryotes it has been replaced with cell cortex.

The Radiolaria, also called Radiozoa and informally called radiolarians, are unicellular eukaryotes of diameter 0.1–0.2 mm that produce intricate mineral skeletons, typically with a central capsule dividing the cell into the inner and outer portions of endoplasm and ectoplasm. The elaborate mineral skeleton is usually made of silica. They are found as zooplankton throughout the global ocean. As zooplankton, radiolarians are primarily heterotrophic, but many have photosynthetic endosymbionts and are, therefore, considered mixotrophs. The skeletal remains of some types of radiolarians make up a large part of the cover of the ocean floor as siliceous ooze. Due to their rapid change as species and intricate skeletons, radiolarians represent an important diagnostic fossil found from the Cambrian onwards.