Description
For a class of 30. Developed by Donna Bozzone, Saint Michael’s College. Tetrahymena is ideal for studying phagocytosis and vacuole formation. This cell behavior is quite dramatic and easy to observe with a compound microscope (not included).
When hungry Tetrahymena encounter food, they use their moving cilia to maintain a current of extracellular fluid and sweep material into each cell’s buccal cavity (mouth). The receiving vacuole fills with food particles and fluid and pinches off.
Tetrahymena ingest a wide variety of materials – including but not limited to bacteria, yeast, India ink, carbon particles, carmine, latex beads, polystyrene beads, and heat-coagulated egg albumin. Teacher instructions included.