2023 Freshwater Protozoans – Life Magnified
- Pictures a microscopic view of freshwater protozoans
- Part of the Life Magnified set of 20 stamps
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Life Magnified
Value: First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: August 10, 2023
First Day City: Cleveland, Ohio
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset, Flexographic
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tagging
Why the stamp was issued: To show an up-close view of freshwater protozoans we would never be able to see with the naked eye.
About the stamp design: Pictures a photograph taken with special techniques using a microscope. Design also includes the name of the specimen.
First Day City: First Day of Issue Ceremony was held in Cleveland, Ohio, at The Great American Stamp Show.
About the Life Magnified Set: These 20 stamps were issued to showcase life undetectable by the human eye alone. All 20 stamps picture photographs taken using special techniques and the aid of a microscope. The set celebrates the beauty and complexity of microscopic organisms and parts of organisms, the study of which have had various impacts on humans.
History the stamp represents: Protozoa are single-celled organisms found nearly everywhere in nature. These microscopic animals are even found living within other, larger animals. Some of these are commensal (neither harms or benefits the host) while others are pathogens (usually produce disease).
There are over 50,000 species of protozoa in the world. They were first discovered in 1674 by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek using a simple microscope he had created. Protozoa, like all animal cells, include organelles (specialized structures) that perform various functions that keep the cell alive. These include the nucleus (contains the cell’s genetic material), vacuoles (handle waste products), and more. Some protozoa also have a cytosome, a mouth-like structure that takes in fluids or food particles. There are also protozoa with specialized ways of movement. These include pseudopodia (arm-like branches), cilia (tiny, hair-like structures), and flagella (a long, thin, tail-like apparatus allowing the cell to “swim”).
While only made up of a single cell, protozoa are anything but simple. It is amazing how much scientists have learned about these creatures since their discovery. As microscopes become more and more advanced, scientists are sure to discover even more exciting finds down the road.
