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Dictyostelium discoideum Protocols pp 113–124Cite as

Collection and Cultivation of Dictyostelids from the Wild

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 983))

Abstract

Dictyostelium discoideum is a commonly used model organism for the study of biological processes such as chemotaxis, cell communication, and development. While these studies primarily focus on a single clone, recent work has revealed a host of questions that can only be answered from studies of multiple genetically distinct clones. Understanding intraspecific clone conflict, kin recognition, differential adhesion, and other kinds of interactions likely to occur in the natural soil habitat can only come from studies of multiple clones. Studies of populations of wild isolates are also important for understanding the factors contributing to associations such as species co-occurrences and to observed inter- and intraspecific interactions such as those found between bacteria and D. discoideum. Natural isolates of Dictyostelium are easily found in soil and leaf litter in nearly all habitats. Here we describe a simple and successful method for isolating new wild clones from soil, then isolating single clonal strains, and storing them for future use.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Tracy E. Douglas, Debra A. Brock, Boahemaa Adu-Oppong, David C. Queller & Joan E. Strassmann

Authors
  1. Tracy E. Douglas
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  2. Debra A. Brock
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  3. Boahemaa Adu-Oppong
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  4. David C. Queller
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  5. Joan E. Strassmann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joan E. Strassmann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Centre for Biochemistry, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 52, Köln, 50931, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Ludwig Eichinger

  2. , Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, Montserrat

    Francisco Rivero

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Douglas, T.E., Brock, D.A., Adu-Oppong, B., Queller, D.C., Strassmann, J.E. (2013). Collection and Cultivation of Dictyostelids from the Wild. In: Eichinger, L., Rivero, F. (eds) Dictyostelium discoideum Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 983. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-302-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-302-2_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-301-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-302-2

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