#karyorelictids

[adelicateculturecell]

"One of the challenges of being able to study their nuclei is the fact that most karyorelictid species have been difficult to cultivate in the lab. There Is something a little frustrating but also very ture to our attempts to understand biology, that these organisms are so difficult to house in the well-fed comfort of a flask, and yet thrive in the harsh reality that makes them so fascinating to begin with."

Journey to the Microcosmos- The Chaotic Life of Seashore Ciliates

Images Originally Captured by Jam's Germs

[adelicateculturecell]

"Even then, a little bit of damage seems inevitable. I mean, this is sand and waves. That can hurt, even when you're not a microbes. The Karyorelictids have a solid back-up plan: regeneration. It's a classic amongst microbes. You cut one piece, and the organism grows that piece back, stitching itself anew. In the case of the karyorelictea, some species can regrow parts of their body within 3 or 4 hours."

Journey to the Microcosmos- The Chaotic Life of Seashore Ciliates

Images Originally Captured by Jam's Germs

[adelicateculturecell]

"For most ciliates, when the organism divides, the macronucleus divides with it, ensuring that the new daughter cells each have their own macronucleus. This is not the case for the karyorelictids. When they divide, their macronuclei don't. The daughter cells use their micronuclei to make a whole new macronuclei. Karyorelictids are usually observed with multiple macronuclei, which is probably a way to ensure that there's at least some functional nucleus around while the organism is making a new one."

Journey to the Microcosmos- The Chaotic Life of Seashore Ciliates

Images Originally Captured by Jam's Germs