Volvox is a genus of multicellular freshwater green algae (Chlorophyta). It is largely used for developmental biology, and to study the transition from single celled to multicellular forms of life. Can you see how these spherical photosynthetic beauties are creating a water flow around them?
Volvox is composed of colonies of small biflagellate cells with smaller aflagellate colonies inside that forms smaller spheres. The flagellated cells are all interconnected by small cytoplasmic bridges. A Volvox colony is typically formed of two types of cells; germ and somatic. The larger sphere is composed of around 2000 somatic cells responsible for motility. These create this flow around the colony, but they cannot divide and are programmed to die within a few days. Germ cells are nonmotile, but can divide asexually and form new little colonies. These generative cells are basically responsible for Volvox’s growth and reproduction and are practically immortal!
When the mother colony breaks open, the young colonies can escape and start their life! The cycle can then start again ☺️
Soundtrack by beat wizard @arithmetikmusiq ✨
Video taken with my iPhone mounted on my BA310E Motic microscope with an @ilabcam adapter 馃敩 @moticamericas
References:
David L. Kirk, Germ–Soma Differentiation in Volvox, Developmental Biology,
Volume 238, Issue 2 (2001)
Fenchel, T. (2013). Ecology of Protozoa: The biology of free-living phagotropic protists. Springer-Verlag.
Umen, J.G. Volvox and volvocine green algae. EvoDevo 11, 13 (2020)
Volvox is composed of colonies of small biflagellate cells with smaller aflagellate colonies inside that forms smaller spheres. The flagellated cells are all interconnected by small cytoplasmic bridges. A Volvox colony is typically formed of two types of cells; germ and somatic. The larger sphere is composed of around 2000 somatic cells responsible for motility. These create this flow around the colony, but they cannot divide and are programmed to die within a few days. Germ cells are nonmotile, but can divide asexually and form new little colonies. These generative cells are basically responsible for Volvox’s growth and reproduction and are practically immortal!
When the mother colony breaks open, the young colonies can escape and start their life! The cycle can then start again ☺️
Soundtrack by beat wizard @arithmetikmusiq ✨
Video taken with my iPhone mounted on my BA310E Motic microscope with an @ilabcam adapter 馃敩 @moticamericas
References:
David L. Kirk, Germ–Soma Differentiation in Volvox, Developmental Biology,
Volume 238, Issue 2 (2001)
Fenchel, T. (2013). Ecology of Protozoa: The biology of free-living phagotropic protists. Springer-Verlag.
Umen, J.G. Volvox and volvocine green algae. EvoDevo 11, 13 (2020)
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