Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Coenobium


I see God in science. I have the opportunity to study what he has created and some days, it blows me away. Let me give you an example:  in many cases, algae reproduce asexually which means they cut themselves up into little pieces and then release these genetically identical pieces into the water.  Asexual reproduction in plants is super cool, but it gets more amazing.  

The term Coenobium refers to a colony with a fixed number of cells.  That means within one cell of algae, when it is cutting itself up into many pieces, there is going to be a fixed amount of cells within that cell.  More specifically, a tiny copy of that species of algae is being created within one cell. Once the cell breaks open, that little copy will be released into the water and will grow and be able to reproduce on its own.  If there is a colony of algae made up of 16 cells, each of those 16 cells has the capability to reproduce and make a little 16-celled colony.  That to me is absolutely amazing. Sometimes I sit in class and think.  Wow! what a great creator God is.  


Pictured Pediastrum, a type of algae that reproduces asexually in this way. 

 See the little "daughter"  come out?  Some cells are empty and some are not.