Pattern formation in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum
Pattern formation in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum
The cellular slime mould Dictyontelium discoidoum,is an organism highly amenable to the experimental study of developmental problems. Thin thesis in concerned with the problem of pattern formation in D. diccoideum, the primary aim being to investigate the factors controlling the patterned relationship of the two different cell types found in the slime mould. It is to be hoped that ouch an investigation might reveal general features about pattern formation in development,applicable to more complex organisms.A literature review ip presented outlining relevant research work and hypotheses put forward to explain the problem. The review concludes with a number of questions which are thought to be critical in making a decision between the alternative theories available. These questions are the major concern of the research reported in subsequent chapters.The relative proportions of the two cell types was assessed at all the developmental stages in the life cycle. Precursor spore calls first appeared shortly after aggregation as the grex tip was beginning to form. The full prespore complement, which is directly related to the number of mature spores within the fruiting body, was reached by the early culmination otago. Conditions which altar the oporoistalk ratio also affected prospers proportions in the name manner.Spherical, non-polar agglomerates wore formed from D. diccoidoum co)ls by shaking them in suspension. Such agglomerates exhibited both differentiation of prospers calls and the formation of patterned organisation amongst tho colts. The pattern apparently arises as a result of sorting out of coil types following random differentiation. Terminal differentiation into spores and stalk cello did not occur within agglomerates but unusual cyst-like structures were formed. As a result of these observations, a new model for pattern formation in the slime mould is proposed and the theoretical and experimental implications are discussed.
University of Southampton
1977
Forman, David
(1977)
Pattern formation in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
The cellular slime mould Dictyontelium discoidoum,is an organism highly amenable to the experimental study of developmental problems. Thin thesis in concerned with the problem of pattern formation in D. diccoideum, the primary aim being to investigate the factors controlling the patterned relationship of the two different cell types found in the slime mould. It is to be hoped that ouch an investigation might reveal general features about pattern formation in development,applicable to more complex organisms.A literature review ip presented outlining relevant research work and hypotheses put forward to explain the problem. The review concludes with a number of questions which are thought to be critical in making a decision between the alternative theories available. These questions are the major concern of the research reported in subsequent chapters.The relative proportions of the two cell types was assessed at all the developmental stages in the life cycle. Precursor spore calls first appeared shortly after aggregation as the grex tip was beginning to form. The full prespore complement, which is directly related to the number of mature spores within the fruiting body, was reached by the early culmination otago. Conditions which altar the oporoistalk ratio also affected prospers proportions in the name manner.Spherical, non-polar agglomerates wore formed from D. diccoidoum co)ls by shaking them in suspension. Such agglomerates exhibited both differentiation of prospers calls and the formation of patterned organisation amongst tho colts. The pattern apparently arises as a result of sorting out of coil types following random differentiation. Terminal differentiation into spores and stalk cello did not occur within agglomerates but unusual cyst-like structures were formed. As a result of these observations, a new model for pattern formation in the slime mould is proposed and the theoretical and experimental implications are discussed.
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Published date: 1977
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Local EPrints ID: 458617
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/458617
PURE UUID: 3827ce1e-56ff-4aff-9a5e-700334a688bc
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 16:52
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 16:52
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Author:
David Forman
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