DISC. MULTICELLULAR INDIVIDUAL 43 



As is well known, when the human body is infected with 

 malaria the amoebae, tiny unwalled protoplasmic masses, 

 come to occupy the red blood corpuscles, where they increase 

 in size, each finally dividing into a number of spores which 

 varies with the class of infection. Each of the spores when 

 liberated then enters a fresh blood corpuscle, becomes an 

 amoeba, and the process is repeated. After a certain time, 

 however, spores are produced which on entering corpuscles 



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Fig. 2. — The life-cycle of the malarial parasite. (After Daniels.) 



do not grow to sporulate, but enlarge into male or female 

 gametes. 



To quote Daniels : — 



"In the warm-blooded host reproduction takes place asexually 

 by the breaking up of each organism into a number of young forms 

 or spores. This is the endogenous or asexual cycle of development. 

 The host during this cycle is the intermediate host. The parasites 

 which develop in this manner are known as eporocytes. Some of 



