Introduction

Dictyostelium discoideum is known as cellular slime molde. Classified among

protozoa, this species of amoeba has been studied at cellular, biochemical, and
genetic levels. In nature, ​D. discoideum is found as a soil amoeba in detritus of
forests and its food supply is the bacteria present in the environment. However,
when the food source on the environment is depleted, the cellular slime molde
presents its unique developmental events that differ them from other less social
organisms.
When the environment is depleted of food source, the single myxamoebae
are chemoattracted trough a gradient of cyclic adenosine 3’,5’-monophosphate
(cAMP) to form multicellular aggregates. These tight aggregates develop into
motile slugs, also called pseudoplasmodium or grex, which are composed of
prestalk and prespore cells. These cells are precursors of stalk and spore cells,
which form the fruiting body, the final structure in the life cycle of the
Dictyostelium discoideum​. Before culminating into mature fruiting bodies, the
pseudoplasmodium migrates and leaves a trail of cellulose sheath. High
temperatures, availability of light, and high humidity, in the environment guide
this migration.
In this paper, we investigate the effects of the light on the development of
Dictyostelium discoideum​. Specifically, Since they are phototaxis, we explore the
light-guided migration of these social amebae. We also observe the effects that
the absence of light can bring to the development of these slime moldes.