Cell Mixtures of Different Species and Strains of Cellular Slime Moulds

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Abstract
The cells of various species and strains of cellular slime moulds have been mixed by making grafts at the aggregation stage and by thoroughly mixing the cells at the migration stage. Depending upon the strains used, varying degrees of cell compatibility or adhesion between the cells was observed. There was either (l)a complete separation of the strains; (2) a partial merger to form a double fruiting body, one standing on the sorus of the other; (3) a single fruiting body on which the pre-spores of both strains regrouped to form two cohesive blocks of cells within one sorus. This regrouping phenomenon is also characteristic of many dissociated animal cells where partially or completely differentiated cells will regroup with their kind. It is suggested that the basis of this regrouping phenomenon is the result of an intermediate degree of surface compatibility—not so great as to produce a complete separation of the cells, and not so little as to permit a random intermingling of the cells.
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