The 34th chapter of the “Inhabitants of the microworld” series is called “Original sex”.
Reproduction of ciliates has very especial characteristics. Paramecium, as representative of this group of microorganisms, allows us to observe its process of conjugation. During this process, two individuals join and interchange genetic material (DNA). This allows the process of genetic recombination that is in the basis of evolution. Possibly this is the origin of the sexual reproduction, the origin of sex.
This is the 34th chapter of a series that will bring to us a video per day during this confinement forced by COVID-19.
We hope that you enjoy this initiative, which gives access to a documentary series for free to the world, and you share it with everyone you think will possibly be interested.
Science into Images’s team.