Some tiny organisms use wisp-like ‘hairs’ to help them swim around. So-called cilia are barely visible on the surface of this parasitic worm egg, the thickness of a human hair. A young worm, or larva, is hatching through the rupture. Images like these are made using a scanning electron microscope. A high-energy stream of electrons is fired at an object, producing a 3D representation. When the larva is still in the egg, a protein called p38 MAPK is activated, which keeps the cilia stationary. When it hatches, the protein stops working and the cilia are able to propel the larva forward to find a host snail. Cilia are not just for swimming. We have them in the lining of our lungs. When they don’t work organ damage can result. Studying how cilia work in simple organisms like worms could have important medical consequences.
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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.
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