Volvox, an incredible view of a unique algae

This is my first collaboration between myself and the fantastic Instagram page that is The Tardibabe, over at Chloé, the Scientist behind the page captures stunning footage of astounding microbes such as this: Volvox is a genus of multicellular freshwater green algae. It is largely used for developmental biology, and to study the transition from single celled to multicellular forms of life. These larger spheres are colonies of small biflagellate cells with smaller aflagellate colonies inside. The flagellates are all interconnected by small cytoplasmic bridges. A colony is typically formed of two types of cells; germ and somatic. The larger sphere is composed of around 2000 somatic cells responsible for motility. These create this flow around the colony, but they cannot divide and are programmed to die within a few days. Germ cells are nonmotile, but can divide asexually and form new little colonies. These generative cells are basically responsible for Vo
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