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== | =='''Reaching for sunlight'''== | ||
Winter can be a rough time for people living in our lines of latitude. The sun is often hid by clouds, we become more tired and despondent. | |||
People use to substitute their lack of sunlight by traveling to warm places or taking Vitamin D. They start running after the last sunbeams because they know the impact of being without it. | |||
This reminded me of Euglena, the microorganism that is attracted by light. Do we share a similarity in this way? | |||
[[File:DSC03199.JPG|600px]] | |||
By working on my experiments I wondered how I can connect this idea with my previous work. I thought about building a connection between humans reaching for light and the organisms that do the same. | |||
Without thinking about the meaning I sometimes used a daylight lamp to light Euglena - its actual function is to spend light for people during the winter months to lift the spirits and to obviate tiredness. | |||
The outcome of my project is an Euglena painted picture which makes my thoughts visible, an installation which makes it possible to move Euglena to places and in shapes I want. To enable this I utilized Euglena’s ability of phototaxis to control its movement. The result is the copy of a negative drawing - filled with thousands of those green microorganisms - which starts to fade after a couple of minutes. | |||
Before I started to develop the installation I researched ideas, methods and other projects. The following experiments and the documentation shall give an overview of my work. | |||
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<br> | |||
==='''50 Shades of Green - Euglena Experiment Kit'''=== | |||
To share my ideas I developed an experimental toolkit which includes useful materials and tools and a handbook with instructions to get started on experimenting with Euglena. It shall be both a supportive guide and an inspiration to develop own ideas and projects. | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:Guide 1.png | |||
File:Guide 2.png | |||
File:Guide 3.png | |||
File:Guide 4.png | |||
</gallery> | |||
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<br> | |||
== Research and Ideas == | == Research and Ideas == | ||
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What fascinates me most about '''Euglena gracilis''' is its ability to use photosynthesis or rather the need of this capability to survive. | What fascinates me most about '''Euglena gracilis''' is its ability to use photosynthesis or rather the need of this capability to survive. | ||
Photosynthesis means that the organism converts light energy into chemical energy to power its energy balance. Euglena subsist heterotrophic and autotrophic; besides the process of photosynthesis (which is used by plants) it takes nourishment like animals as well. Euglena gracilis is a mixotrophic microorganism. | Photosynthesis means that the organism converts light energy into chemical energy to power its own energy balance. Euglena subsist heterotrophic and autotrophic; besides the process of photosynthesis (which is used by plants) it takes nourishment like animals as well. Euglena gracilis is a mixotrophic microorganism. | ||
Besides that, it is able to recognize the stimulus of light (phototaxis). This function helps Euglena to move towards light sources to always assure the facility to use photosynthesis. [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augentierchen] | Besides that, it is able to recognize the stimulus of light (phototaxis). This function helps Euglena to move towards light sources to always assure the facility to use photosynthesis. [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augentierchen] | ||
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This made me think of several questions: | This made me think of several questions: | ||
*What happens when the whole tube is wrapped with foil and there is only red light? What will the Euglena's concentration be like? | *What happens when the whole tube is wrapped with foil and there is only red light? What will the Euglena's concentration be like? | ||
*How do | *How do Euglena react to other colors? | ||
*Is there a color | *Is there a color it prefers? | ||
*Can I create contrasts in the concentration by using different colors? | *Can I create contrasts in the concentration by using different colors? | ||
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*Is it possible to arrange Euglenas in forms I want them to be? | *Is it possible to arrange Euglenas in forms I want them to be? | ||
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<br> | |||
== Preparation == | == Preparation == | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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<br> | |||
== Experiments == | == Experiments == | ||
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'''''How can I cultivate Euglena faster?''''' | '''''How can I cultivate Euglena faster?''''' | ||
For all the experiments I want to do I need a huge amount of | For all the experiments I want to do I need a huge amount of organisms. After observing the medium I already cooked about three weeks before without noticing any change, I wanted to try out something new. I researched some more advices and tips to speed up the reproduction. | ||
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'''Expactation''' | '''Expactation''' | ||
I guess that the nutrients I use this time work better for Euglena. During my researches I saw that various biology pages recommend the use of hard cheese and the addition of CO2. The tubes in which I am going to add CO2 will probably show a better growing of Euglena. Furthermore I think that in the tubes with the medium I have already made, the growing will be a bit faster because those | I guess that the nutrients I use this time work better for Euglena. During my researches I saw that various biology pages recommend the use of hard cheese and the addition of CO2. The tubes in which I am going to add CO2 will probably show a better growing of Euglena. Furthermore I think that in the tubes with the medium I have already made, the growing will be a bit faster because those Euglena already got some nutrients; the pure Euglena did not. | ||
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File:day 5.JPG | File:day 5.JPG | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
checking the vessels: | checking the vessels: | ||
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*Erlenmeyer flask - few amount of Euglena | *Erlenmeyer flask - few amount of Euglena | ||
*Beaker glass - amount of Euglena is significantly growing; only a few Paramecia | *Beaker glass - amount of Euglena is significantly growing; only a few Paramecia | ||
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[[File:tube 1 day 15.mov]] | [[File:tube 1 day 15.mov]] | ||
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*Erlenmeyer flask - moderate amount of Euglena; a few Paramecia | *Erlenmeyer flask - moderate amount of Euglena; a few Paramecia | ||
*Beaker glass - small amount of Euglena; a few Paramecia | *Beaker glass - small amount of Euglena; a few Paramecia | ||
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*Erlenmeyer flask - small amount of Euglena | *Erlenmeyer flask - small amount of Euglena | ||
*Beaker glass - small amount of Euglena | *Beaker glass - small amount of Euglena | ||
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*Erlenmeyer flask - cheese on the bottom starts becoming green; moderate amount of Euglena | *Erlenmeyer flask - cheese on the bottom starts becoming green; moderate amount of Euglena | ||
*Beaker glass - cheese on the bottom starts becoming green; small amount of Euglena | *Beaker glass - cheese on the bottom starts becoming green; small amount of Euglena | ||
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File:after shaking.JPG | File:after shaking.JPG | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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*Erlenmeyer flask - moderate amount of Euglena; fast movement | *Erlenmeyer flask - moderate amount of Euglena; fast movement | ||
*Beaker glass - moderate amount of Euglena; fast movement | *Beaker glass - moderate amount of Euglena; fast movement | ||
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*Erlenmeyer flask - high amount of Euglena; fast movement | *Erlenmeyer flask - high amount of Euglena; fast movement | ||
*Beaker glass - moderate amount of Euglena; fast movement | *Beaker glass - moderate amount of Euglena; fast movement | ||
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*Erlenmeyer flask - high amount of Euglena; fast movement | *Erlenmeyer flask - high amount of Euglena; fast movement | ||
*Beaker glass - moderate amount of Euglena; fast movement | *Beaker glass - moderate amount of Euglena; fast movement | ||
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*Erlenmeyer flask - high amount of Euglena; fast movement | *Erlenmeyer flask - high amount of Euglena; fast movement | ||
*Beaker glass - high amount of Euglena; fast movement | *Beaker glass - high amount of Euglena; fast movement | ||
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<br> | <br> | ||
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I repeated the experiment with different colors and and a new medium. This time I used the Euglena from the beaker glass. With altogether five colors I wanted to create more | I repeated the experiment with different colors and and a new medium. This time I used the Euglena from the beaker glass. With altogether five colors I wanted to create more options to choose for the organisms. | ||
After one and a half hour of illumination I reached a more satisfying result then before. On the bottom there were three separeted stripes | After one and a half hour of illumination I reached a more satisfying result then before. On the bottom there were clearly visible three separeted stripes. As I knew Euglena is not able to see red light and maybe also orange because it is a mixture of yellow and red. All the other colors - yellow, green and blue - seem to be transparent and light enough to be a good concentration point. Between those stripes were thin parts where the colors overlapped and made a darker shade. Those areas are clear and not (or only less) besieged by the organisms. | ||
I also noticed a green settlement on the ground again. It seems like a part of the concentration always sinks to the bottom of the vessel. | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:DSC03190.JPG | |||
File:DSC03191.JPG | |||
File:DSC03197.JPG | |||
</gallery> | |||
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==== Experiment 3 ==== | ==== Experiment 3 ==== | ||
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[[File:DSC03183.JPG|400px]] | [[File:DSC03183.JPG|400px]] | ||
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<br> | <br> | ||
== Developing an Euglena Experiment Kit == | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
Experimenting with Euglena in different ways made me even more interested in this organism. Especially the experiments with the shapes were very exciting and fascinating. So I decided to develop a toolkit (or the prototype of a toolkit) which makes it easy to arrange similar projects. I still have more ideas what I could do with the tools I have and I am curious what kind of ideas other people have regarding this topic. | |||
''Remark:'' I developed this experiment kit based on the knowledge of Euglena I have by now. The main focus on this project is giving interested people the chance to experiment with Euglena artistically on a low budget. | |||
'''What is it?''' A playful installation which makes it possible to draw with the single-celled organism Euglena. If you have different ideas to enhance it - go for it! | |||
'''What can you do with it?''' The installation is made for experimenting with Euglena in connection with light, colors and shapes. People who are interested can use it for playing around and turn their pictures into a very different form of drawing. I think it is especially interesting because you can control the development of the outcome not completely. At some point you need to give up the control over your artwork and let Euglena surprise you. You can draw your very own picture, convert it into a mask and receive an Euglena based drawing as outcome. By taking a photo before the artwork fades, you can create a visual memory which can also be printed (e.g. on linen) as art print. | |||
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== | <br> | ||
==Conclusion== | |||
===Cultivating Euglena=== | |||
'''After nearly one month of cultivating Euglena the color of all cultures is finally green. Time to sum up the results.''' | |||
One of the most important things to say is that in every vessel the Euglena increased to a preferable amount, independently from the ingredients I used for the medium. The big difference is the time they needed. | |||
Tube 1 and 2 were very fast because I used the medium I already cooked what means they have had two weeks to grow before I startet Experiment 1. So I was already able to recognize a medium amount of organisms after three days. | |||
Nevertheless I am convinced that the cheese and the fertilizer helped the growing because of some reasons: The concentration was nearly the same in Tube 1 and 2 and in the Erlenmeyer flask after 30 days. That means the growing in the flask speeded up so that in the end it reached the same concentration with a significantly smaller amount of Euglena in the beginning. Also, the tubes only contain 15ml and the Erlenmeyer flask 100ml - another sign that also without the chemicals a high amount of Euglena can be bred in a short time. | |||
Also I guess that it took longer in tube 3 and 4 because they contained the fewest nutrients. I used cheese and fertilizer but the water was distilled. | |||
There was no noticeable difference in the vessels in which I additionally put CO2 fertilizer once a week. | |||
'''My recommendation for growing Euglena:''' | |||
Miga’s recipe in combination with a small piece of hard cheese, a warm and light place but no direct sunlight, at least three weeks time and some patience :) | |||
''Note:'' I don’t think the extra solution 3 of the medium is needed anymore because the cheese contains Vitamin B12. To substitute Vitamin B1 some wheat grain should be added as well. I often read that this I used for breeding Euglena too, for example [https://www.uni-weimar.de/kunst-und-gestaltung/wiki/images/Culturing-Euglena2.pdf here]. | |||
===Working artistically with Euglena=== | |||
Sharing a room with Euglena for a whole semester gave me a lot of inspiration - how this organism works, how simple and difficult is is at once and what methods I can use to build a bridge between our livings. | |||
The fact that Euglena is able to do photosynthesis opens so many doors which can be used to find artistic ways to work with microorganisms. | |||
As someone who never did something like this before I am very excited about the process and the outcome. Even though I struggled at the beginning with breeding Euglena I found my workflow and finally managed to develop an idea and to be happy with the result. |
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