#heliozoon

[adelicateculturecell]

"The world is always changing and testing the organisms with it. Temperatures can become uncomfortable, nutrients can become scarce, and enemies can become plentiful. Adapting to these changing conditions requires change in the organism and its progeny. That change can come about in many different ways and manifest in many different forms, but one of the tried and true methods is sexual reproduction."

Journey to the Microcosmos- Becoming Your Own Baby Through Conjugation

Paramecium conjugation 200x, Tardigrade eats Chlamydomonas-like algae 630x, Ophryoglena 630x, Paramecium bursaria in cell division 400x, Heliozoon dividing 400x, Blepharisma 200x

[adelicateculturecell]

CC: "When it comes to making more of themselves, single-celled eukaryotes--or protists--have a few options. They can go the asexual reproduction route, dividing and making nearly exact copies of themselves. And this is a pretty nice way of life.... I mean, think of the advantages. You don't have to waste time trying to find a mate and when the process is done, the end result is more of yourself. Now, that might sound narcissistic, but when it comes to survival, it's also pragmatic. If your genes work, why not just make more of them?"

Journey to the Microcosmos- Becoming Your Own Baby Through Conjugation

Images Originally Captured by Jam's Germs