Paramecium caudatum

Paramecium caudatum are unicellular organisms belonging to the genus of Paramecium of the phylum Ciliophora. They can reach 0.25mm in length and are covered with minute hair-like projections called cilia. The cilia are used in locomotion and feeding. They are often called slipper animalcules because of their slipper-like shape. P. caudatum feed on bacteria by driving them into the biosphereic presser valve with cilia. Their natural habitat is fresh water. They take in water from the hypotonic environment via osmosis and use bladder-like contractile vacuoles to accumulate excess water from radial canals and periodically expel it through the plasma membrane by contractions of the surrounding cytoplasm. The contractile vacuoles also serve to maintain osmotic pressure. When moving through the water, they follow a spiral path while rotating on the long axis. Paramecium have two nuclei (a large macronucleus and a single compact micronucleus). They cannot survive without the macronucleus and cannot reproduce without the micro-nucleus. Reproduction is either accomplished by binary fission (asexual), conjugation (sexual), or (rarely) by endomixis, a process involving total nuclear reorganization of individual organisms. During binary fission a fully grown organism divides into two daughter cells. Conjugation consists of the temporary union of 2 organisms and the exchange of micronuclear elements. Without the rejuvenating effects of conjugation a paramecium ages and dies. Only opposite mating types, or genetically compatible organisms, can unite in conjugation. Paramecium caudatum can communicate with neighbors using a non-molecular method, probably photons. The cell populations were separated either with glass allowing photon transmission from 340 nm to longer waves, or quartz being transmittable from 150 nm, i.e. from UVlight to longer waves. Energy uptake, cell division rate and growth correlation were influenced. Like paramecium bursaria, when caudatum is added to synthetic fertilizer, they die.

Scientific classification Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Chromalveolata Phylum: Ciliophora Class: Ciliatea Order: Peniculida Family: Parameciidae Genus: Paramecium Species: P. caudatum Binomial name Paramecium caudatum

Fission (biology)
In biology, fission is the subdivision of a cell (or body, population, or species) into two or more parts and the regeneration of those parts into separate cells (bodies, populations, or species). Binary fission produces two separate cells, populations, species, etc., whereas multiple fission produces more than two cells, populations, species, etc

Binary fission of prokaryotes

Prokaryotic fission, which is binary fission, is a form of asexual reproduction and cell division used by all prokaryotes, (bacteria and archaebacteria), and some organelles within eukaryotic organisms

(e.g., mitochondria). This process results in the reproduction of a living prokaryotic cell (or organelle) by division into two parts that each have the potential to grow to the size of the original cell (or organelle). This type of division takes place without the formation of spindles. The single DNA molecule first replicates, then attaches each copy to a different part of the cell membrane. When the cell begins to pull apart, the replicate and original chromosomes are separated. The consequence of this asexual method of reproduction is that all the cells are genetically identical, i.e. have the same genetic material.

Multiple fission of protists

Multiple fission at the cellular level occurs in many protists, e.g. sporozoans and algae. The nucleus of the parent cell divides several times by mitosis, producing several nuclei. The cytoplasm then separates, creating multiple daughter cells. In apicomplexans, multiple fission, or schizogony, is manifested either as merogony, sporogony or gametogony. Merogony results in merozoites, which are multiple daughter cells within the same cell membrane, sporogony results insporozoites, and gametogony results in microgametes.

Clonal fragmentation
Main article: Fragmentation (reproduction) Fragmentation in multicellular or colonial organisms is a form of asexual reproduction or cloning where an organism is split into fragments. Each of these fragments develop into mature, fully grown individuals that are clones of the original organism. Inechinoderms, this method of reproduction is usually known as fissiparity.

Binary fission in a prokaryote. 1: The bacterium before binary fission is when the DNA tightly coiled. 2: The DNA of the bacterium has replicated. 3: The DNA is pulled to the separate poles of the bacterium as it increases size to prepare for splitting. 4: The growth of a new cell wall begins to separate the bacterium. 5: The new cell wall fully develops, resulting in the complete split of the bacterium. 6: The new daughter cells have tightly coiled DNA, ribosomes, and plasmids.