Serologic Evidence of Cytoplasmic Interchange During Conjugation in Paramecium bursaria

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Abstract
Two antigenically distinct strains of P. bursaria were examined serologically in hanging drop- prepns. with the 44 x objective and the 10 x ocular of the microscope. A gelatinous ppt. about the ciliary zone and ciliary tangling within 2 hrs. after the paramecia were placed in the antiserum was taken as evidence for antigen-antibody reaction. 95% of recent ex-conjugants contained some antigen common to their mates which they did not previously possess. This new antigen persisted in their progeny for at least 1 mo. Serol. tests on pairs of animals in conjugation gave variable results: in no instance did both members of pairs react in either antiserum after short periods of conjugation; in many instances both members reacted in the antiserum in which they were tested after long periods of conjugation. The antigen involved may be exclusively cytoplasmic and during conjugation there occurs an extensive interchange of cytoplasm.

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