NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Bioconvection in Cultures of the Calcifying Unicellular Alga Pleurochrysis CarteraeThe unicellular, marine, calcifying alga P leurochiysis carterae--a model to study cell morphogenesis, cell polarity, calcification, gravitaxis, reproduction and development-- has extremely flexible culture requirements. Support studies for a flight experiment addressing cell motility suggested that cell density (cells/ml) affects cell movement in P. carterae cultures through the gradual establishment of bioconvection as the culture grows. To assess the effect of cell density on direction of the movement, without the effects of aging of the culture, swimming behavior was analyzed in aliquots from a series of dilutions obtained from a stock culture. Results showed that at low concentrations cells swim randomly. As the concentration increases, upswimming patterns overtake random swimming. Gradually, up and down movement patterns prevail, representative of bioconvection. This oriented swimming of P. carterae occurs in a wide range of concentrations, adding to the list of flexible requirements, in this case, cell concentration, to be used for spaceflight studies addressing cell motility and bioconvection in a unicellular model of biologically directed mineralization.
Document ID
20040070919
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Montufar-Solis, Dina
(Texas Univ. Health Science Center Houston, TX, United States)
Duke, P. Jackie
(Texas Univ. Health Science Center Houston, TX, United States)
Marsh, Mary E.
(Texas Univ. Health Science Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 2003
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Gravitational Physiology
Publisher: Galileo Foundation
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
ISSN: 1077-9248
Subject Category
Exobiology
Meeting Information
Meeting: 24th Annual Gravitational Physiology Meeting
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: May 4, 2003
End Date: May 9, 2003
Sponsors: International Society for Gravitational Physiology
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG2-1261
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG2-6072
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Document Inquiry

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available