Microbial Profile Proposal: amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum The microorganism I would like to profile is an amoeba called Dictyostelium discoideum, a cellular slime mold. I chose D. discoideum due to their role in biomedical research as a model organism and interesting life cycle. It is a motile soil amoeba that grows on microorganisms and
feels on bacteria and proliferation through binary fission. To survive against starvation, the amoebae aggregate and develop to form fruiting bodies that consist of spores. When nutrients are available again, the spores germinate and give rise to amoebae which begin again to proliferate by cell division. The microorganism is extremely resistant to damage to its DNA and is equipped with a variety of DNA repair pathways to protect it. These pathways are found in mammals but are absent in other non-vertebrates. It’s suitability for genetic analysis and manipulation of its genome is because it is a haploid organism. It’s ability to form a motile mass that exhibits morphological and biochemical development from aggregating a group of free-
living cells for the purpose of common reproduction is what makes Dictyostelium discoideum a model organism for studying intercellular signaling, specialization and other cell functions. Bibliography:
feels on bacteria and proliferation through binary fission. To survive against starvation, the amoebae aggregate and develop to form fruiting bodies that consist of spores. When nutrients are available again, the spores germinate and give rise to amoebae which begin again to proliferate by cell division. The microorganism is extremely resistant to damage to its DNA and is equipped with a variety of DNA repair pathways to protect it. These pathways are found in mammals but are absent in other non-vertebrates. It’s suitability for genetic analysis and manipulation of its genome is because it is a haploid organism. It’s ability to form a motile mass that exhibits morphological and biochemical development from aggregating a group of free-
living cells for the purpose of common reproduction is what makes Dictyostelium discoideum a model organism for studying intercellular signaling, specialization and other cell functions. Bibliography:
