Studies on the Macronucleus of Paramecium aurelia. II. Development of Macronuclear Anlagen

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
SYNOPSIS. The development of the macronuclear Anlagen of Paramecium aurelia was studied by means of electron, light and ultra‐violet microscopy of timed stages following conjugation. In the youngest Anlagen, no differentiated structures could be made out, and staining reactions gave little or no indications of the presence of DNA or RNA. As development proceeds, a number of conspicuous “sponge‐like” RNA‐containing bodies surrounded by a “matrix” containing DNA can be seen. Eventually these RNA bodies develop DNA centres and apparently disintegrate, yielding the “large bodies” characteristic of the mature macronucleus, and the “small bodies” then also appear. The relation of these observations to interpretations of the structural elements in the macronucleus is discussed.

This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit: