The rate of attachment of amoebae to the substratum: a study of nuclear-cytoplasmic relationships

The rate of attachment to the substratum was found to be a strain specific character of certain large free-living amoebae. Two strains, which differed significantly in this respect, were compared with regard to the rate of attachment of enucleated cytoplasm, nuclear-cytoplasmic hybrids and amoebae injected with cytoplasm from another strain. It was found that both the nucleus and the cytoplasm of the more rapidly attaching strain were able to transmit this character to amoebae of the more slowly attaching strain. The possible mechanisms underlying attachment and transmission of the rate of attachment are discussed.