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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 3821

Fulvio Esposito, Rosalba Banchetti, and Nicola Ricci; Mating-Type Dependent Cell Pairing in Oxytricha hymenostoma: Macronuclear Fusion and Lack of Meiosis. J.Protozool. 25(2):238-241, 1978

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In a hologamy-like process observed in Oxytricha hymenostoma, 2 cells belonging to complementary mating types fused and appeared to contribute equally to the macronuclei of the organism resulting from the fusion. The process was characterized by the absence of micronuclear division and by fusion of the macronuclei of the 2 partners. True conjugation involving micronuclear meiosis was not observed in O. hymenostoma. The biologic significance and the possible adaptive role of the hologamy-like process are discussed.