Algae use their 'tails' to gallop and trot like quadrupeds
Tuesday, May 3, 2016 - 17:30
in Biology & Nature
These are microscope images showing two species of algae which swim using tiny appendages known as flagella. Long before there were fish swimming in the oceans, tiny microorganisms were using long slender appendages called cilia and flagella to navigate their watery habitats. Now, new research reveals that species of single-celled algae coordinate their flagella to achieve a remarkable diversity of swimming gaits.