Workmanship of a single celled creature

[gekko]

I am constantly amazed at how a lump of protoplasm can build its house with such excellent craftsmanship. In this image the focus plane was on the opening of the shell of an amoeba (possibly Difflugia[?]**). Brightfield; 20x objective.



_____________________________________________
** http://www.arcella.nl/difflugia-corona

Thanks to Crater Eddie for the water sample.

[75RR]

Wonderful image! Agree with the Testate Amoebae house building skills, makes most humans look pretty average.

[KurtM]

I am constantly amazed at how a lump of protoplasm can build its house with such excellent craftsmanship.

I like the way you think.

[rnabholz]

I am constantly amazed at how a lump of protoplasm can build its house with such excellent craftsmanship. In this image the focus plane was on the opening of the shell of an amoeba (possibly Difflugia[?]). Brightfield; 20x objective.



Thanks to Crater Eddie for the water sample.

Right? Great shot and as Kurt says, interesting, thought provoking commentary. Thanks Gekko.

[JimT]

I echo all the above. Nice of it to present such an interesting view of its house.

[gekko]

Thank you all for your comments. Actually, it boggles my mind that testate amoebas basically build the same kind of "house", yet each genus and species has its own typical architecture, and uses its special building methods and materials. Thanks again!

[Dale]

Thank you for the awesome link. That's what I'll be reading during my week at the ocean.
Dale

[zzffnn]

It is amazing indeed. I am wondering why each species build a specific structure? Could it be that they have different building mechanisms that only function certain ways (and such mechanisms are genetically coded in species-specific manner)?

I know one or two guys who bought a SEM just for ameobas. One goes by Ecki at photomacrography. net. He was a computer guy, but he probably knows more about ameobas than many biologists. When there is a chance and I can remember it, I will ask him.

[Dale]

ZZ, my knowledge about SEM's is scant, but aren't the specimens examined
in a vacuum chamber? How long can an amoeba hold its breath?
Dale

[gekko]

Thank you for the awesome link. That's what I'll be reading during my week at the ocean.
Dale

Thank you Dale. Enjoy your week at the ocean.

[gekko]

zzffnn, it would be nice to learn about this. Thank you!

Dale, zzffnn can give you a more knowledgeable answer, but I think that with the SEM, they would be looking at the test itself, not the amoeba.

[Dale]

The test itself? Don't understand that, but I do have a stack of microbiology books to read on my vacation, and a few
are specific to SEM's.
Dale

[zzffnn]

Dale,
Ameobas would be killed by SEM's sample preparation process (chemical fixation/freezing, dehydration and metal-coating).

[Dale]

How would you gold plate an amoeba? Just finished a 50 page book on post SEM technology. Absolutely
mind blowing. Vivid descriptions without boring detail.
Dale

[vasselle]

Bonjour Gekko
Très belle image.
Ce sont des créatures formidable.
Merci pour le partage
Cordialement seb

[gekko]

Thank you very much, seb.

[gekko]

The test itself? Don't understand that

I should have said "the shell itself" (that is, not the amoeba)-- sorry.

[Dale]

Gotcha.

[zzffnn]

Ecki replied my question to him (how and why different amoebas build tests of different complex shapes) in this thread:

http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... 951#184951

He did not really answer why shapes are so different, but his comments are still quite educational.

[gekko]

zzffnn, thank you very much!! This is very fascinating.