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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 7884

E.Ye. Boykova; Use of Cloning in Ecological and Toxicological Studies on Infusoria. Hydrobiological Journal 17(4):59-64, 1981

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Physiological polymorphism occurring in the presence of toxic substances (zinc, lead) were demonstrated using cloning and population analysis. Twelve clones of infusoria we studied with respect to resistance and three with respect to rate of cell division. These studies, as well as an analysis of the literature, show that in conducting toxicological experiments on unicellular organisms it is necessary to take intraspecific polymorphism into accout. Cloning also facilitates the application of a new qualitative bioassay test on infusoria, namely conjugation, a test indicative of the significance of toxic contaminants in the genetic renewal of populations. Test results showed that Paramecium putrinum, Stylonychia mytilus and Euplotes harpae are ideal test subjects and can be recommended for water toxicity bioassays.