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Specimen
048
The distinctive crescent-shaped cell of the algae Closterium. The elongated cell tapers at both ends, where there are vacuoles holding tiny vibrating crystals of barium sulfate. The span of the cell has two chloroplasts containing numerous pyrenoids, separated in the middle of the cell by a clear area that contains the nucleus. Pyrenoids are sub-cellular micro-compartments found in the chloroplasts of many algae. Their main function is to act as centres of carbon dioxide (CO2) fixation, by generating and maintaining a CO2 rich environment and hence accelerating photosynthesis. You can see in this video the active movement of gas bubbles and other particles as a result of these chemical processes. . |