ON THE RELATION BETWEEN GROWTH AND MORPHOGENESIS IN THE SLIME MOLD DICTYOSTELIUM DISCOIDEUM

Abstract

The growth kinetics of D. discoideum has been determined on complete and restricted media. Myxamoebae were taken from different parts of the lag and log phases and allowed to aggregate under conditions permitting quantitative examination. No difference could be discerned between the aggregative performances of these cells and that of stationary phase myxamoebae with respect to the number of centers formed or the population density response. The bearing of these results upon the mechanisms of cellular differentiation during slime mold development is discussed.