Nucleic Acid Digestion and Macronuclear Form in Cannibal Blepharisma, New York University Strain

1550-7408

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Biology

SYNOPSIS. Cannibal giant Blepharisma undulans americanus, NYU strain, grown in mass culture, showed increased numbers of macronuclear lobes and greater variability in their number, compared to the bacteria-fed form. Feulgen and methyl greenpyronin preparations stained both the DNA and RNA of the cannibals and of the ingested forms within the food vacuoles.During the first 3 to 6 hours of digestion, macronucleus and deoxyribonucleic acid disappear from the food vacuole; during the last 6 hours the ribonucleic acid disappears from the food vacuole; DNA and RNA are therefore presumed to be digested and absorbed.

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