Discussion

Endocytosis is the ability to internalize material from outside the cell important for several cellular processes through the invagination of the cell membrane around the particulate. There are two forms of endocytosis and they are known as phagocytosis and pinocytosis. Phagocytosis literally means cell engulfing while on the other hand pinocytosis literally means cell drinking
[1]

. Endocytosis, specifically in Tetrahymena,

occurs when they are in need of nutrients. The organisms are dependent on their cilia to funnel food into their oral groove
[2]

also known as their cytostome and the food is then

enclosed in a membrane bound food vacuole that will be pinched off and circulated throughout the cell [3].

On experiment 3, endocytosis in Tetrahymena sp. had been observed with three methods. The first method involved using Chlorella. Chlorella is a genus of fast multiplying unicellular algae rich with nutrients including 19 amino acids, vitamins B12 and C, and beta carotene, which makes it a suitable and common food source for Tetrahymena
[4]

. A drop of Chlorella cell suspension is placed on one side of the cover

slip to allow it to be adsorbed via capillary action underneath the cover slip and this drop of Chlorella is sufficient enough to feed a colony of Tetrahymena. Because Tetrahymena cells are motile and fast moving organisms, owing to thousands of hair-like structures known as cilia covering their cell membranes
[2]

, it can prove to be quite a challenge to

observe them under high power objective due to the small field of view. Thus, by

supplying the Tetrahymena cell suspension with Chlorella, a feeding area or zone is established to which the Tetrahymena can be baited so that phagocytosis can be observed. Though several aggregates of this ciliate may be seen feeding on a colony of Chlorella, it may still be difficult to see details of phagocytosis such as the numbers of vacuoles being produced in a cell.

Another method may be done with the use of graphite shavings obtained from a pencil. Graphite is a mineral that cannot easily be metabolized by the Tetrahymena, which will allow it to be present in the cell for a long period. This method allows one to be able to observe phagocytosis more clearly by allowing the organisms to engulf the solid dark particles.

The other method requires the use of 1% India ink to demonstrate pinocytosis. The organisms were able to feed upon the globules of India ink as was observed by the internal formation of vacuoles filled with the ink. For a more thorough examination of the protist's cilia and to be able to count the average number of vacuoles produced by each organism, they must first be immobilized with the use of a 3% Formalin solution, which is a weak preserving agent after the ciliates 10 minutes of exposure to the ink suspension.

[1] Damer, C. K., Daigle, S. N. (2002). Endocytosis. Biology. Retrieved August

29, 2013 from http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3400700146.html

[2] Bozzone, D. M. (1999). Investigating phagocytosis in tetrahymena. Am. Biol. Teacher 62(2): 136-139.

[3] Bozzone, D. M., Martin, D. A. (2000). An experimental system to study

phagocytosis. Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching 21(1): 405-415. [4] Wells, K. (2005). Chlorella. Gale encyclopedia of alternative medicine.

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29,

2013

from

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