Amoeba of the genus Cochliopodium. Phase contrast microscopy. In the center, three digestive vacuoles with algae are visible, and a dark cell nucleus is located just below. The cytoplasm contains a lot of light contractile vacuoles, you can notice yellowish crystals.
The Cochliopodiumgenome includes genes whose functions are employed in the process of genetic recombination suggesting the possibility of a sexual stage. The genome sequence of Cochliopodium minus contains a complete set of genes necessary for meiosis a key stage of sexual reproduction.
References
↑Kudryavtsev A (July 2006). ""Minute" species of Cochliopodium (Himatismenida): Description of three new fresh- and brackish-water species with a new diagnosis for Cochliopodium minus Page, 1976". Eur. J. Protistol. 42 (2): 77–89. doi:10.1016/j.ejop.2005.12.002. PMID17070753.
↑Kudryavtsev A, Smirnov A (March 2006). "Cochliopodium gallicum n. sp. (Himatismenida), an amoeba bearing unique scales, from cyanobacterial mats in the Camargue (France)". Eur. J. Protistol. 42 (1): 3–7. doi:10.1016/j.ejop.2005.08.001. PMID17070746.