Tetrahymena
Tetrahymena
Tetrahymena (pronounced: te-tra-hy-me-na) is a genus of free-living ciliates that can be found in a variety of aquatic environments. The name "Tetrahymena" comes from the Greek words "tetra," meaning four, and "hymen," meaning membrane, referring to the four membranous ciliary rows found on the body of these organisms.
Etymology
The term "Tetrahymena" was first coined by Alfred Kahl in 1931. The name is derived from the Greek words "tetra," meaning four, and "hymen," meaning membrane. This refers to the four membranous ciliary rows that are characteristic of organisms in this genus.
Description
Tetrahymena are unicellular organisms that are covered in cilia, which they use for locomotion and feeding. They are known for their large size relative to other ciliates, with some species reaching up to 50 micrometers in length. Tetrahymena are also notable for having two nuclei: a large macronucleus that controls the cell's metabolic and developmental processes, and a small micronucleus that is involved in sexual reproduction.
Reproduction
Tetrahymena reproduce both asexually, through a process known as binary fission, and sexually, through a process called conjugation. During binary fission, the macronucleus and micronucleus of the parent cell each divide, and the cell then splits into two daughter cells. During conjugation, two Tetrahymena cells of different mating types come together and exchange genetic material.
Related Terms
- Ciliate: A type of single-celled organism that moves and feeds using hair-like structures called cilia.
- Binary fission: A form of asexual reproduction in which a cell divides into two genetically identical daughter cells.
- Conjugation (biology): A form of sexual reproduction in which two cells exchange genetic material.
- Macronucleus: The larger of the two nuclei found in ciliates like Tetrahymena, which controls the cell's metabolic and developmental processes.
- Micronucleus: The smaller of the two nuclei found in ciliates like Tetrahymena, which is involved in sexual reproduction.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tetrahymena
- Wikipedia's article - Tetrahymena
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