Gravity and the Behavior of Unicellular Organisms (Developmental and Cell Biology Series, Series Number 40)

How do single cells recognize gravity and apply their perception to their ecological advantage? This book summarizes historical and current approaches to this basic question. Single cells play a significant role in food webs and also present valuable model systems for studying the mechanisms of gravity perception, a topic of increasing interest in these days of experimentation in space. The book is directed to biologists and other life scientists interested in space sciences, cellular evolution, cell motility, signal transduction and ecophysiology. Unicellular organisms use gravity as an environmental guide to reach and stay in regions optimal for their growth and reproduction. These single cells play a significant role in food webs and these factors together make the effects of gravity on unicellular organisms a fascinating and important subject for scientific study. In addition, they present valuable model systems for studying the mechanisms of gravity perception, a topic of increasing interest in these days of experimentation in space. This book reveals how single cells achieve the same sensoric capacity as multicellular organisms like plants or animals. It reviews the field, discussing the historical background, ecological significance and related physiology of unicellular organisms, as well as various experimental techniques and models with which to study them. Those working on the biology of unicellular organisms, as well as in related areas of gravitational and space science will find this book of value. Cover......Page 1 Gravity and the Behavior of Unicellular Organisms......Page 2 9780521820523......Page 7 Contents......Page 8 List of Abbreviations......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 Introduction......Page 16 Methods in Gravitational Biology......Page 27 Image Analysis......Page 43 Ciliates......Page 66 Flagellates......Page 90 Other Organisms......Page 121 Responses to Other Stimuli......Page 128 Energetics......Page 156 Models for Graviperception......Page 180 Evolutionary Aspects of Gravisensing: From Bacteria to Men......Page 199 Perspectives......Page 212 References......Page 220 Index......Page 266 "This book reveals how single cells achieve the same sensoric capacity as multicellular organisms, such as plants or animals. It reviews the field, discussing the historical background, ecological significance, and related physiology of unicellular organisms, as well as various experimental techniques and models with which to study them. Those working on the biology of unicellular organisms - as well as in related areas of gravitational and space science - will find this book of value."--Jacket How do single cells know where is up and down? What is their ecological benefit? How can they be used to study the mechanisms of gravity perception? Historical and current approaches are summarised in order to answer these basic questions of interest to biologists as well as space and gravitational scientists. The phenomenon that some free-swimming unicellular organisms tend to swim to the top of a tube and gather there - independent of whether the tube is open or closed - has been observed more than 100 years ago. Donat-peter Häder, Ruth Hemmersbach, Michael Lebert. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 205-250) And Index.