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Mating‐Type Dependent Cell Pairing in Oxytricha hymenostoma: Macronuclear Fusion and Lack of Meiosis
Author(s) -
ESPOSITO FULVIO,
BANCHETTI ROSALBA,
RICCI NICOLA
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1978.tb04404.x
Subject(s) - meiosis , mating type , biology , cell fusion , pairing , mating , fusion , cell division , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , cell , gene , physics , linguistics , philosophy , superconductivity , quantum mechanics
SYNOPSIS In a hologamy‐like process observed in Oxytricha hymenostoma , 2 cells belonging to complementary mating types fused and appeared to contribute equally to the macronuclei of the organism resulting from the fusion. The process was characterized by the absence of micronuclear division and by fusion of the macronuclei of the 2 partners. True conjugation involving micronuclear meiosis was not observed in O. hymenostoma. The biologic significance and the possible adaptive role of the hologamy‐like process are discussed.