For centuries, biologists have been working to understand the basic functions of cells. These functions include reproduction, respiration, photosynthesis, endocytosis, metabolism, and a number of others. The unicellular organism Tetrahymena thermophila has offered biologists studying these processes a platform off of which to base their research. These cells have been used to make several groundbreaking scientific discoveries, such as the link between histone acetylation and gene regulation(Coyne, 2011). They have also been used to research and solve fundamental problems in the areas of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology(Coyne, 2011). Tetrahymena are ciliated protozoa that live in freshwater environments. These organisms are unique because they contain two nuclei despite being a single celled organism. One nucleus contains the somatic genome, and the other the germ line genome(Shieh). The diet of Tetrahymena is typically bacteria, however they will consume a number of different substances depending on their environment. Tetrahymena are incredibly complex organisms despite being single celled. They possess many of the qualities of multicellular organisms, such as nervous and digestive systems, and have about 25,000 genes(Shieh).
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