Time-Lapse: Sexual Attraction in Spirogyra by Dr. Jeremy Pickett-Heaps

2009 Olympus BioScapes International Digital Imaging Competition
Specimen: Sexual Attraction in Spirogyra
Technique: Brightfield
Credit: Dr. Jeremy Pickett-Heaps
Prize: 3rd Place
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[@Ricketts77]

Jeremy Pickett-Heaps passed away a few years ago and is fondly remembered. He was a fantastic scientist and made many beautiful films of algae.

[@-c2784]

And both the Spirogyras lived happily in their little room
*THE END*

[@ethanrummel7080]

What is the factor determining which cells invades the other?

[@Piocoto123]

Sex, there is male and female spyrogyra

[@Ricketts77]

Not exactly male and female as in having eggs and sperm since both gametes are the same size and shape. But one protoplast moves and is called the male gamete. I'm not aware of research showing that there's a factor or signal that controls this but there must be something. Usually the gametes moving are all from the same filament lined up with the other, but occasionally gametes from either filament move across through conjugation tubes. It's amazing.

[@crane8035]

I do not know anything about conjugation , but does the new diploid cell give rise to new filaments or its just a diploid cell doing nothing ,if it's the latter scenario it seems to violate the premise of reproduction as it does not augment the number of beings alive

[@Ricketts77]

Hi, good question. The diploid cell is called the zygote, and it undergoes meiosis. This produces 4 haploid protoplasts but 3 do not survive and the remaining one germinates into a new filament, splitting the wall of the zygote so it looks a bit like a pistachio seed coat split apart. You can find diagrams of the life cycle on the web.

[@RosiePark-ge7zr]

How long does it actually take for the completion of this process??

[@EVIDENTLifeScience]

This was submitted with the information in the video description. We unfortunately do not have a specific answer as to how long the time lapse took place. Thanks for watching!