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Paramecium pp 120–130Cite as

Nuclear Dimorphism and Function

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Abstract

Ciliates have two kinds of nuclei, macronuclei and micronuclei, in a common cytoplasm. They differ both in structure and in function. The micronucleus is an ordinary diploid and plays the role of a germinal nucleus which undergoes meiosis and gives rise to gametic nuclei which form the zygotic nucleus (synkaryon) at fertilization. After fertilization the synkaryon gives rise to new micro-and macronuclei. Both micronuclei and macronuclei have typical nuclear envelopes, however, the chromatin of the micronucleus is densely packed and nucleoli are absent. The macronucleus is transcriptionally very active and is considered to control cytoplasmic and nuclear events. Does the micronucleus act only as a puppet of the macronucleus throughout the life cycle? The somatic function of the micronucleus has been debated for a long time. Recent work on Paramecium shows that the micronucleus plays an important role in stomatogenesis during both sexual and asexual phases of the life cycle. Nuclear dualism also provides unique and interesting problems for the study of nuclear function and differentiation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute for Science Education, Miyagi University of Education, Sendai, 980, Japan

    Kazuyuki Mikami

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  1. Kazuyuki Mikami
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologisches Institut der Universität Münster, Schloßplatz 5, 4400, Münster, Germany

    Hans-Dieter Görtz

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© 1988 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Mikami, K. (1988). Nuclear Dimorphism and Function. In: Görtz, HD. (eds) Paramecium. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73086-3_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73086-3_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-73088-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-73086-3

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