simple and innovative experiments on paramecium

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SIMPLE AND INNOVATIVE EXPERIMENTS ON PARAMECIUM

*G. NAGARAJ and S.P. KULKARNIRegional Institute of Education (NCERT), Mysore

*e-mail: [email protected] mobile: 09036865978

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Introduction Children learn science by being involved not only with its content, but also with its methodology

Effective science teaching should accommodate both.

The position paper of NCERT (2006) clearly states the aims of Science Education

To achieve such valuable aims innovative and creative teaching practices are vital.

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Aim of the study

To design and propose a group of innovative,

improvised and relatively low-cost experiments for

the school students (IX-XII class) to study the

behavioral response of Paramecium to various

stimuli.

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unicellular ciliated protozoa widespread in fresh, brackish & marine water move by their cilia reproduce by conjugation and binary fission capacity to respond to stimuli readily cultivated in the lab widely used in laboratories

What is Paramecium?

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Past research studies Judith (1977) -mutant of Paramecium was defective in chemotaxis. Dryl (1963)- Paramecia showed avoiding reaction towards pH changes Matsuoka & Nakaoka (1988) P bursaria showed phototaxis by accumulating in a lighted region. Circadian changes in behaviour and electrical properties of the membrane P bursaria by Nakajima and Nakaoka (1989) . Nakajima and Nakaoka (1989) photoaccumulation and swimming velocity were at a higher level during the day than at night. Tawada & Miyamoto (1973) concluded that P caudatum detects temperature changes. Khouaildi & Danny (2006)-magnetic fields reduce Parameciums’ growth by triggering early senescence . Armus et al. (2006) found that Paramecium caudatum may be trained through the application of a 6.5 volt electrical current.

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Proposed innovative experimentA. Materials required

•Hay & rice, •distilled & pond water, •conical flask & cotton •microslides,& microscope•black polythene sheets, •acidic, alkaline & saline

solutions, •colored transparent sheets, •battery cells & bar magnets •thermo coal & sponge and•gas stove & lighter

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Boil hay, rice in DW & inoculate with pond water containing Paramecium

B. Preparation of P. culture medium

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a. Place P. & chem. medium b. Make a bridge betwn. medium

d. Observe P. movementc. Wait for 5 min

1. Assay of chemotaxic behavior of Paramecium

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a. Arrange setup b. Spread P. culture on slide

d. Observe P. movementc. Apply warm water on sponge

2. Assay of thermotaxic behavior of Paramecium

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3. Assay of phototaxic behavior of Paramecium

Expose half slide to colored light & darkness and observe P. movement

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4. Assay of electrotaxic behavior of Paramecium

b. Observe P. movementa. Connect + & - of battery

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5. Assay of magnetotaxic behavior of Paramecium

Place S & N poles of bar magnet under slide & observe P. movement

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Conclusion

Since it is simple, relatively low-cost,

attractive and innovative, we happily and

confidently propose these experiments for the

school students (IX-XII class) to inspire the ability of

learning to learn Science.

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Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank the

Principal & Head, DESM, RIE, Mysore and

Authorities of NCERT, New Delhi

for providing us the support to bring out this paper

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THANK YOU