Practice question

Ciliate protists within phylum Ciliophora exhibit distinctive nuclear dimorphism possessing two types of nuclei within single cell: large polyploid somatic macronucleus containing highly amplified fragmented chromosomes actively transcribing genes regulating vegetative growth, metabolism, and asexual fission, and small diploid germline micronucleus transcriptionally inert during vegetative stage but undergoing meiosis during sexual conjugation. Post-conjugation new macronucleus differentiates from micronucleus through extensive programmed genome rearrangement including chromosome fragmentation and elimination. This dual organization underpins phenotypic plasticity and genetic exchange in Paramecium, Tetrahymena, and Stentor.