Questions and Answers
What is the difference between plasmodial slime molds and cellular slime molds?
A plasmodial slime mold is enclosed within a single membrane without walls and is one large cell, while cellular slime molds spend most of their lives as individual unicellular protists that assemble into a cluster when a chemical signal is secreted.
What is the vegetative phase of the cellular slime mold?
The vegetative phase of the cellular slime molds is an ameboid cell.
What happens during sexual reproduction in cellular slime molds?
Two cells of opposite mating types fuse to create a diploid cell which eventually leads to spore formation.
How do plasmodial slime molds reproduce?
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What is a major difference between cellular and plasmodial slime mold reproduction?
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What occurs when the moisture levels and temperatures are just right for cellular slime molds?
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Study Notes
Plasmodial vs Cellular Slime Molds
- Plasmodial slime molds are single large cells enclosed by a membrane without walls, containing multiple nuclei.
- Cellular slime molds consist of individual unicellular protists that can aggregate into a multicellular structure in response to chemical signals.
Cellular Slime Mold Life Cycle
- The vegetative phase features ameboid cells that can reproduce sexually or asexually based on environmental conditions.
- During sexual reproduction, two opposite mating type cells fuse to form a diploid cell, which then phagocytizes surrounding ameboid cells to form a giant cell.
- The giant cell undergoes meiosis, producing a macrocyst in which haploid spores are formed and later released.
Plasmodial Slime Mold Life Cycle
- Reproduction occurs through the formation of a reproductive stalk that contains spores, appearing spherical or popsicle-like at the top.
- Appropriate conditions like moisture and favorable temperatures, typically in spring and autumn, trigger the release of spores.
- The plasmodium phase is diploid and gives rise to a fruiting body where meiosis occurs to produce haploid spores that germinate into flagellated gametes.
- Gametes fuse to form a diploid zygote, which grows and undergoes mitotic nuclear division without cytoplasmic division, resulting in a new plasmodium.
Key Differences
- Cellular slime molds remain as individual cells, or "slugs," each with one nucleus, while plasmodial slime molds are a single entity with many nuclei.
- Slugs move at an average speed of 1 millimeter per hour, emitting chemical trails that attract other slugs for aggregation.
- During aggregation, about a third of cells form a stalk-like fruiting body while others differentiate into spores, which are released under suitable conditions.
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Description
Explore the key differences between plasmodial slime molds and cellular slime molds with these flashcards. Understand their unique reproductive strategies and life cycles, and how they interact with their environment. Perfect for biology students or enthusiasts of protist biology.
