The Ciliate Paramecium Shows Higher Motility in Non-Uniform Chemical Landscapes
Author(s)
Giuffre, Carl; Hinow, Peter; Vogel, Ryan; Ahmed, Tanvir; Stocker, Roman; Consi, Thomas R.; Strickler, J. Rudi; ... Show more Show less
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We study the motility behavior of the unicellular protozoan Paramecium tetraurelia in a microfluidic device that can be prepared with a landscape of attracting or repelling chemicals. We investigate the spatial distribution of the positions of the individuals at different time points with methods from spatial statistics and Poisson random point fields. This makes quantitative the informal notion of “uniform distribution” (or lack thereof). Our device is characterized by the absence of large systematic biases due to gravitation and fluid flow. It has the potential to be applied to the study of other aquatic chemosensitive organisms as well. This may result in better diagnostic devices for environmental pollutants.
Date issued
2011-04Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringJournal
PLoS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Citation
Giuffre, Carl et al. (2011) "The Ciliate Paramecium Shows Higher Motility in Non-Uniform Chemical Landscapes." PLoS ONE 6(4): e15274.
Version: Final published version
ISSN
1932-6203