Paramecium movement assignment BES108
Paramecium movement assignment: Answer the following questions and hand in at the beginning of the next lab.
1. Describe how Paramecium moves in aquatic environments?
For the paramecium to move forward, its cilia beat on an angle, backward in unison. The paramecium moves by spiraling through the water. For the paramecium to move backward, the cilia beat forward on an angle at the same time. If the paramecium runs into a solid object, the cilia changes its direction and beats forward, which makes the paramecium go backward. The paramecium turns slightly and goes forward again. If it runs into the solid object again it will do the same thing until it can get past the object.
2. Describe the mechanism of movement in Paramecium based on fluxes of calcium in cilia.
When the calcium channels open up and allow the influx of calcium ions into the cell, the increase the calcium ions causes the reversal of the cilia and the paramecium starts to swim backwards.
3. How do paramecia react to each cation solution? Did you noticed differences in direction, duration or frequency of their movement? Explain the mechanisms of these changes.
For the dryl’s solution the Paramecium were moving forward for about 79% of the time. When I was observing them they changed direction a few times but not a lot. They were moving at an average speed; not to fast or to slow.
For the Barium solution the Paramecium were moving forward for about 41% of the time. When I was observing them they changed direction frequently instead of going forward for most of the time. They were still moving at an average speed.
For the Sodium solution the Paramecium were moving forward for about 45% of the time. I was observing them. They changed direction frequently going in a jerking motion and a paranoid state (moving backwards.) They were still going at an average speed.
For the Potassium solution the Paramecium were moving forward for 58% of the time. The rest of the time they were changing
1. Describe how Paramecium moves in aquatic environments?
For the paramecium to move forward, its cilia beat on an angle, backward in unison. The paramecium moves by spiraling through the water. For the paramecium to move backward, the cilia beat forward on an angle at the same time. If the paramecium runs into a solid object, the cilia changes its direction and beats forward, which makes the paramecium go backward. The paramecium turns slightly and goes forward again. If it runs into the solid object again it will do the same thing until it can get past the object.
2. Describe the mechanism of movement in Paramecium based on fluxes of calcium in cilia.
When the calcium channels open up and allow the influx of calcium ions into the cell, the increase the calcium ions causes the reversal of the cilia and the paramecium starts to swim backwards.
3. How do paramecia react to each cation solution? Did you noticed differences in direction, duration or frequency of their movement? Explain the mechanisms of these changes.
For the dryl’s solution the Paramecium were moving forward for about 79% of the time. When I was observing them they changed direction a few times but not a lot. They were moving at an average speed; not to fast or to slow.
For the Barium solution the Paramecium were moving forward for about 41% of the time. When I was observing them they changed direction frequently instead of going forward for most of the time. They were still moving at an average speed.
For the Sodium solution the Paramecium were moving forward for about 45% of the time. I was observing them. They changed direction frequently going in a jerking motion and a paranoid state (moving backwards.) They were still going at an average speed.
For the Potassium solution the Paramecium were moving forward for 58% of the time. The rest of the time they were changing