Amebae in Forty-Eight Hours

Abstract

In introductory studies of microorganisms few experiences are more rewarding than experiments with amebae. Their relatively slow locomotion and apparent simplicity of form lend them readily to feeding, taxic, reproduction, growth, and other such experiments. However, rare is the teacher who has not known the frustrations involved in scheduling laboratory sessions using them. The methods most often presented in text, source and handbooks on the culture of them are such as to discourage all but the more determined teacher, the teacher with considerable planning time, or, one with an unusual source of materials. In A Sourcebook for the Biological Sciences the authors write that the usual method of growing amebae requires the use of established cultures of protozoans in hay infusion or in synthetic pond water. They also note that small amounts of some fresh water plants, on which amebae may be present, when covered with pond water into which uncooked rice grains are added, generally produce amebae in one week to ten days in successful cultures. Kudo, also, suggests the use of established cultures but with glass distilled water to which four grains of rice are added and about 5 cc of Chilonionas culture.