No abstract

Simple media for Tetrahymena, using rat gut or soybean as the nutrient source are described. Cultures can be maintained in these media up to one year at room temperature.

A new mutation, Em, is described for T. pyriformis, syngen 1. This dominant mutation eliminates the normal immature period in heterozygotes but is lethal in the homozygous state.This paper is dedicated to Dr. Ralph Cleland in honor of his 75th birthday.

No abstract

Mating types I and II of Blepharisma japonicum v. intermedium excrete gamones 1 (blepharmone J) and 2 (blepharismone) respectively. The gamone of one type transforms cells of the other type so that they can conjugate with each other. We found that three other species, B. america-•num, B. musculus and B. stoltei, have two types of cells homologous to those in B. japonicum; one (type II) excretes a factor which has the same activity as gamone 2 of B. japonicum, the other (type I) responds to this gamone by cell union. Type I cells of these species also excrete a gamone which induces pairs in type II cells of particular strains. Complementarity for mating is observed in some combinations of the two types.These results indicate that each of the four species has at least one pair of complementary mating types, I and II, with the gamones of the type II's being the same molecule, blepharismone, while gamones of type I's are species-or syngen-specific blepharmone. These . generic and specific gamones can be utilized to clarify existing taxonomic and evolutionary questions in the genus Blepharisma.