Chlamy Mating and Dikaryon Rescue

$35.00

This is a laboratory demonstration of Chlamydomonas mating. Droplets of mating type plus and minus gamete suspensions are mixed on a microscope slide. Pairing and cell fusion occur rapidly, and are followed by a transient stage where the newly formed zygote swims about with four flagella. No equipment is required except microscopes, and it’s fun to watch. The quadriflagellate cell produced by gamete fusion remains motile for about two hours before the flagella are resorbed and formation of the zygospore wall begins. During this motile period, flagellar assembly continues, and polypeptides contributed by both parental gametes are incorporated into all four flagella. Thus mating of two non-allelic paralyzed mutants usually results in restoration of full motility in this transient dikaryon, as each partner supplies a wild-type copy of the defective flagellar protein produced by the other gamete. Watching the restoration of motility makes a good laboratory exercise for an undergraduate biology course.

Chlamy mating kit: The kit includes a selection of wild-type controls and complementing non-motile mutants for the dikaryon rescue experiment, plus instructions. Note: the major biological supply houses also sell Chlamydomonas mating kits for classroom use. We’ve been told ours are much more active.

*The mating and dikaryon rescue kit in liquid ready to use for 1-10 students should be used 24-48 hours after you receive the kit as we induce gametogenesis the day we ship.  Therefore, it is not recommended for users outside the US.