An Investigative Approach to the Study of Phagocytosis in Tetrahymena

 

Donna M. Bozzone

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 1998, Volume 19

Abstract

Tetrahymena, a ciliated protozoan, has many attributes that make it an ideal organism for the students’ study of cells. Tetrahymena can be obtained easily, grow in very simple media, and are readily used to explore ciliary motion, organelle structure and function, cell behaviors, and cell morphology. Because of the ease with which Tetrahymena can be grown and manipulated, they are especially suited for use in inquiry-based labs and student projects. The specific focus of this workshop was to examine the processes of phagocytosis and vacuole formation in Tetrahymena. The effects of several factors on these phenomena were studied.

Keywords:  cell biology, Tetrahymena thermophila, contractile vacuole, phagocytosis

University of Calgary (1997)