Macrocyst
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For a large cyst in medicine, see Cyst § Terminology.
For the enlarged red blood cell, see Macrocyte.
A macrocyst is an aggregate of cells of Dictyostelids formed during sexual reproduction enclosed in a cellulose wall.[1] : 468
If two amoebae of different mating types are present in a dark and wet environment, they can fuse during aggregation to form a giant cell. The giant cell will then engulf the other cells in the aggregate and encase the whole aggregate in a thick, cellulose wall to protect it. This is known as a macrocyst. Inside the macrocyst, the giant cell divides first through meiosis, then through mitosis to produce many haploid amoebae that will be released to feed as normal amoebae would.
See also
[edit ]References
[edit ]- ^ Brock, T (2006). Madigan, Michael T.; Martinko, John M (eds.). Biology of Microorganisms (11th ed.). Prentice Hall. p. 468. ISBN 9780131443297.
