The paramecium has two nuclei, a big and small one. The big one operates as the director of the cell's activities, rather like a little brain. The smaller one is used for reproduction. The paramecium splits in half (fission) just as the ameba does. First the smaller nucleus splits in half and each half goes to either end of the paramecium. Then the bigger nucleus splits and the whole paramecium splits. Occasionally two paramecium exchange material and form a new paramecium. This is called conjugation.

Conjugation in Paramecia occurs in the following way: 

a). The formation of ciliary contacts. 
b). Local loss of cilia and formation of narrow contacts between anterioventral somatic cell membranes 
c). Formation of small cytoplasmic bridges (which allow for the exchange of molecular components only). 
d). Their enlargement enables the cells to exchange micronuclei. 

Bacteria exchange plasmid material and the Paramecia exchange micronuclei.

Good luck to Steve! How is it in Neptune? XD

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3 years ago