Paramecium Genetics and Epigenetics

Foreword
Introduction
Introduction
Genetics
Paramecium
The Early Workers
Discarded Hypotheses
Epigenetics
Conclusions
Mating Types in Paramecium
Mating Types and the Species Problem in Ciliates
General Description of the Protista and Paramecium
Introduction
Morphology
Reproduction
The Life Cycle
Methods of Studying Genetic Processes in Organisms of the Paramecium aurelia Species Group
Isolation of Cells and Preparation of Pure Clones
Obtaining Complementary Mating Types
Mendelian Transmission
Caryonidal Transmission
Cytoplasmic Transmission
Methods of Identifying Genetically Defined Genes with Their DNA
The Determination of Mating Types in Paramecium
Introduction
Caryonidal Inheritance
The Cytoplasmic Effect
Independence of the Cytoplasmic Effect and the Phenotype
The O* Phenotype: A New Cytoplasmic State
The Pure E Mutant
Micronuclear Determination
Selfers
Mating Types in Species Other Than Those in the P. aurelia Complex
A Hypothesis to Explain Mating Type Inheritance
Symbionts and Mitochondria of Paramecium
Introduction
The Plasmagene Hypothesis
The Kinds of Symbionts
The Metagon
Mitochondria
Conclusions
Determination of I-Antigens
Introduction
The Immobilization Test and Serotypes
The Genetic System of I-Antigens
Chemistry and Molecular Biology of I-Antigens
Control of Expression of I-Antigen Genes
Conclusions

Ploidy Levels
Activity of Micronuclei and Macronuclei
Programmed Chromosomal Breaks and Telomeres
Internal Eliminated Sequences
Induced Mendelian Deletions
Maintaining Genic Balance at Macronuclear Division
The Paramecium Genome Project
Nuclear Dualism
Ribosomal RNA and DNA
The Early Work of Findly and Gall
More Recent Studies
Micronuclear DNA and a Model
Variants
Cortical Morphogenesis
Double Animals
Cortical Mutants
Trichocysts
Behavior
Introduction
Mutants
Genetics
Cell Models
Measuring the Electric Properties of the Cell Membrane
The Avoiding Reaction
Ion Channels
Behavioral Responses Other Than the Avoiding Reaction
Conclusions
Epigenetics
Symbionts and Mitochondria
Serotype Inheritance
Mating Type Inheritance
Cortical Inheritance
Homology-Dependent Inheritance
Conclusions
Index
References appear at the end of each chapter.

Biography

Geoffrey Beale, John R. Preer Jr.,

"This book has been long awaited . . . not a mere history or a collection of scientific results, but a dynamic and realistic overview because the authors themselves have been involved in most of the work . . . an excellent textbook . . ."

– Terue Harumoto, Biological Science, Nara Women’s University, in The Quarterly Review of Biology, June 2009, Vol. 84, No. 2

"In this excellent and concise book, the pre-eminent authors provide an overview of the 70 years of research on genetics and epigenetic phenomena and mechanisms in a model eukaryote, Paramecium . . . The format of the book with clearly defined chapters and subheadings in conjunction with well- presented tables, diagrams and a comprehensive index enables the reader to easily identify areas of interest . . . will be very useful for students and researchers alike."

– Jun Gong, Natural History Museum, London, in Microbiology Today, Nov 2008