Conjugation (or mating) of ciliates is a unique phenomenon among living beings. They have sex not for reproduction or pleasure — they seek to increase genetic variation. Scientists from St Petersburg ...

Ciliate protozoa possess the remarkable ability to reproduce through both asexual and sexual means. Their distinctive sexual process involves conjugation and autogamy, and they wield a secret weapon: ...

Aquatic ciliates are single-celled eukaryotes whose diverse feeding modes and rapid physiological responses underpin key processes in both marine and freshwater ecosystems. Ecophysiology examines how ...

The mating process is one of the most important mechanisms for maintaining genetic variation in natural populations. The emergence of sexual reproduction turned out to be the most important ...

Over a single day, in the placid waters of a single pond, a million virus particles might enter a single-celled organism known for the minuscule hairs, or cilia, that propel it through those waters.

Researchers have found that microscopic ciliates can eat huge numbers of infectious chloroviruses that share their aquatic habitat. The team's lab experiments have also shown that a virus-only diet, ...