It is not the most original subject. But Paramecium bursaria, with its symbiotic algae inside is a nice subject. I noticed two of them conjugating. When you focus on the interior you can see many interesting details. Perhaps I am making this up but it is as if you can see the nucleï with the chromosomes in some stage of Mitosis?
Wim
Paramecium bursaria conjugating
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Wim, this is absolutely outstanding. I can't imagine better pictures. The details of the nuclear division are incredible.
Your pictures made me to read a corresponding chapter in Ralph Wichterman's book, "The Biology of Paramecium" (1953). Here are some interesting and weird facts I have found:
- "... King (1693) appears to have been the first to assign a sexual process to ciliates..."
- "... sexual union (...) have been first observed by Leeuwenhoek (1695)"
- "... first detailed account of conjugation in P. bursaria was made by Hamburger (1904)..."
- "... preconjugants (individuals entering into conjugation) appear to be somewhat adhesive or sticky..."
- 95 hours are required to complete all stages of conjugation in P. bursaria
- sometimes reconjugation occurs - when an animal separates from its mate and pairs with another one before its nuclear reorganization has completed
- "... instances have been reported in which three or more specimens were involved"
- "... Wichterman reported the union resembling conjugating pairs of a living P. caudatum with a dead specimen..."
Your pictures made me to read a corresponding chapter in Ralph Wichterman's book, "The Biology of Paramecium" (1953). Here are some interesting and weird facts I have found:
- "... King (1693) appears to have been the first to assign a sexual process to ciliates..."
- "... sexual union (...) have been first observed by Leeuwenhoek (1695)"
- "... first detailed account of conjugation in P. bursaria was made by Hamburger (1904)..."
- "... preconjugants (individuals entering into conjugation) appear to be somewhat adhesive or sticky..."
- 95 hours are required to complete all stages of conjugation in P. bursaria
- sometimes reconjugation occurs - when an animal separates from its mate and pairs with another one before its nuclear reorganization has completed
- "... instances have been reported in which three or more specimens were involved"
- "... Wichterman reported the union resembling conjugating pairs of a living P. caudatum with a dead specimen..."
Piotr
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