FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE FORMATION OF MACROCYSTS BY THE CELLULAR SLIME MOLD, DICTYOSTELIUM MUCOROIDES

Abstract

It is tentatively concluded that macrocyst formation is dependent on the presence of some gas or volatile substance produced by the early-developing slime mold. This substance can then influence the course of differentiation of the cells that had produced it. The presence of light during one stage of development, perhaps aggregation, either decreases the production of this substance or decreases the sensitivity of the cells to it, or both.