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 Paramecium

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Glossary

Autogamy - process by which Paramecium "self-fertilizes", i.e. breaks down its macronucleus and replaces it with a new macronucleus derived from its own micronucleus.

Avoidance reaction - a swimming behavior of Paramecium characterized by a momentary ciliary reversal, resulting in a brief stopping/spinning/turning of the cell.

Binary Fission - Asexual cell division by which two identical daughter cells are formed. 

Cilia - short hair-like cellular extensions covered by membrane and constructed of a core of microtubules. Cilia beat in coordinated pattern to aid in locomotion and feeding.

Conjugation - process by which ciliates reproduce sexually. Cells of compatible mating types attach to each other and exchange haploid (meiotic) micronuclei.

Contractile vacuole - organelle found in Paramecium that is used in osmoregulation (removal of excess water from the cell)

Food vacuole - phagocytic vacuole containing recently ingested food. In time the food vacuole merges with lysosomes to digest the contents.

Macronucleus - the larger of the two types of nuclei found in ciliates. Generally polyploid (~800N in Paramecium), the macronucleus is transcriptionally active.

Micronucleus - the smaller of the two types of nuclei found in ciliates. Normally diploid, it carries the cell's germ-line DNA. 

Pellicle - the tough outer covering of Paramecium, including the plasma membrane and underlying cytoskeleton

Trichocyst - defensive organelle of ciliates. 

 

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This page was last edited on 08/21/01 .

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