GMU:Experimental Microbiology/Amoeba proteus

by Antje Danz & Maria Degand

Culturing "general"

Our Web researching: Wheat + Distilled Water, Boil, cool down and put Amoeba proteus in.

What the producer wrote: Rice + Soil decoction in Volvic Water

Culture medium testing

Wheat grains

1. Wheat grains (crushed) + Distilled water, boil, cool down and put Amoeba proteus in. Take wheat grains out before it starts to mould.

2. Volvic water andwheat grains (crushed) inoculate with Amoeba proteus. Take wheat grains out before it starts to mould.

( IDEA: Pond water (Ilm water from behind mensa) and wheat (crushed) inoculate with Amoeba proteus. Take wheat grains out before it starts to mould. )

Rice grains

3. Grains of rice (uncooked) + healing clay + Water + Amoebe proteus

4. Grains of rice (uncooked) + compost soil + Water + Amoeba proteus

Extra

5. Decoction of wheat + drip brew

6. Decoction of wheat + whole wheat grains + Algae Euglena Mix

Observations

Observations

Water clarity is the main concern when working with amoeba proteus. In chamber 4 with compost soil, we probably had some amoeba but could not find them. It should be possible to identify new amoeba proteus with the bare eye. In dirty water or water with wheat particles in them, it was not possible to do this simple observation.

Magnification when using the microscope. We found our first Amoeba proteus in cultivation with a 60 magnification. (Small scale Magnification) (Video) Later we accelerated some of the video footage and found several other, but smaller Amoeba. (Video II with notes and descriptions) We assume far more amoeba in the chambers than we found.

Habitat for us is flat, for amoeba very three dimensional. Amoeba is commonly found at the bottom/ Top of the habitat. In order to find a moving Amoeba, the preparation needs to stay still under the microscope for at least 5 minutes. Turn the lighting of the microscope off and do not move the microscope as amoeba will be in the Cyst state after preparing it.

The Organism is fascinating and a good subject for studying cell organelles and plasmodia behavior. In Chamber 4 we expected to find amoeba in a more natural less constructed environment. We could find Amoeba in all Chambers but the biggest and most active Amoeba in Chamber 5. Furthermore, we were able to keep Amoeba alive in a Jar for several weeks without much maintenance. (Picture)

Projects with Amoeba might be about sensitivity, basic biology, and microscopy.

Other Projects/ Pages by Media Art about Amoeba Proteus

https://www.uni-weimar.de/kunst-und-gestaltung/wiki/GMU:Bio-Lab/Amoeba

https://www.uni-weimar.de/kunst-und-gestaltung/wiki/GMU:DIY_Biolab_%E2%80%9CDriver%E2%80%99s_License%E2%80%9D/euglena,_amoeba

Resources

Biology Discussion. (2018). Amoeba Proteus: Habitat, Structure and Metabolism. [online] Available at: http://www.biologydiscussion.com/invertebrate-zoology/protozoa/amoeba-proteus-habitat-structure-and-metabolism/28183 [Accessed 9 Nov. 2018].

Helbig, G. (2018). Lebendkulturen Helbig. [online] Lebendkulturen.de. Available at: http://lebendkulturen.de/index.php/kulturen/amoeba-proteus [Accessed 9 Nov. 2018].