As a eukaryotic model, Paramecium is well suited for genetic analysis. Paramecium explores how to use this protozoan as a basis for studying complex cells.

Paramecium:

• Describes the morphology, reproduction, and life cycle stages of Paramecium
• Outlines methods for studying genetic processes, such as Mendelian, caryonidal, and cytoplasmic transmissions
• Offers detailed accounts of bygone hypotheses, such as the plasmagene and metagon hypotheses
• Examines epigenetic mechanisms in antigenic expression and cortical inheritances
• Explores interesting new work on ciliate genetics, including a gene cloning method via functional complementation and homology-dependent inheritance

Paramecium examines the assorted mating types of the genus and how these mating types are determined.

Contents

1. Genetics
2. Paramecium
3. The Early Workers
4. Discarded Hypotheses
5. Epigenetics

Mating Types in Paramecium

6. Mating Types and the Species Problem in Ciliates

General Description of the Protista and Paramecium

7. Morphology
8. Reproduction
9. The Life Cycle

Methods of Studying Genetic Processes in Organisms of the Paramecium aurelia Species Group

10. Isolation of Cells and Preparation of Pure Clones
11. Obtaining Complementary Mating Types
12. Mendelian Transmission
13. Caryonidal Transmission
14. Cytoplasmic Transmission
15. Methods of Identifying Genetically Defined Genes with Their DNA

The Determination of Mating Types in Paramecium

16. Caryonidal Inheritance
17. The Cytoplasmic Effect
18. Independence of the Cytoplasmic Effect and the Phenotype
19. The O* Phenotype: A New Cytoplasmic State
20. The Pure E Mutant
21. Micronuclear Determination
22. Selfers
23. Mating Types in Species Other Than Those in the P. aurelia Complex
24. A Hypothesis to Explain Mating Type Inheritance

Symbionts and Mitochondria of Paramecium

25. The Plasmagene Hypothesis
26. The Kinds of Symbionts
27. The Metagon
28. Mitochondria

Determination of I-Antigens

29. The Immobilization Test and Serotypes
30. The Genetic System of I-Antigens
31. Chemistry and Molecular Biology of I-Antigens
32. Control of Expression of I-Antigen Genes
33. Ploidy Levels
34. Activity of Micronuclei and Macronuclei
35. Programmed Chromosomal Breaks and Telomeres
36. Internal Eliminated Sequences
37. Induced Mendelian Deletions
38. Maintaining Genic Balance at Macronuclear Division
39. The Paramecium Genome Project
40. Nuclear Dualism

Ribosomal RNA and DNA

41. The Early Work of Findly and Gall
42. More Recent Studies
43. Micronuclear DNA and a Model
44. Variants

Cortical Morphogenesis

45. Double Animals
46. Cortical Mutants
47. Trichocysts

Behavior

48. Mutants
49. Genetics
50. Cell Models
51. Measuring the Electric Properties of the Cell Membrane
52. The Avoiding Reaction
53. Ion Channels
54. Behavioral Responses Other Than the Avoiding Reaction

Epigenetics

55. Symbionts and Mitochondria
56. Serotype Inheritance
57. Mating Type Inheritance
58. Cortical Inheritance
59. Homology-Dependent

Index

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