Tetrahymena oral apparatus

Applause IconMay 07, 2018 • 7:19 PM UTC
Location IconUnited States
Applause Icon140x Magnification
Applause IconMicroorganisms

Scientific artist, using art as a tool for scientific storytelling. http://www.rebeccakonte.com/

27posts
25comments
22locations
Thumbnail 2
I prepared a slide with a PVC microwell sticker & a droplet of water containing Tetrahymena . This video looks at one well in particular, in which a large air bubble pressed a small water droplet to one side, condensing it into a crescent moon shape. The Tetrahymena within the water seem eager to escape.
In the video above, you’ll see several squeezed under the sticker and essentially immobilized. In this state, I noticed a flurry of cilia on each one. I knew the organisms are covered in cilia, but these small areas appeared particularly dense, so I suspected it was their oral apparatuses. Yet, I was not as confident in this until your most recent post, Laks! Thanks for the inspiration. (Linked below)
Later in the video, I pan upward along the crescent where you can see more Tetrahymena swimming about and seemingly trying to pry underneath the sticker. Initially, I thought the ones fixed under the sticker leaked there as I was preparing the slide. But after seeing the other ones who are half underneath or seemingly trying to budge in, I was not sure! I found this interesting.
Imaging Tetrahymena thermophila cilia

Until next time,
Rebecca

Sign in to commentNobody has commented yet... Share your thoughts with the author and start the discussion!

More Posts from RebeccaKonte