DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR OF AN INTERGENERIC CHIMERA OF HYDRA (PELMATOHYDRA OLIGACTIS INTERSTITIAL CELLS: HYDRA ATTENUATA EPITHELIAL CELLS)

¹ Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, and Center for Pathobiology, University of California, Irvine, California 92717

An intergeneric chimera was produced by repopulating epithelial Hydra attenuata (lacking the interstitial cell lineage) with interstitial cells of Pelmatohydra oligactis. The chimera's morphology and morphogenesis generally resembled that of H. attenuata, for example in the pattern of bud tentacles, in basal disk regeneration rate, and in heterografting specificity. Nematocyst characters of the chimera were the P. oligactis type. In behavior the chimeras were intermediate in some respects but deficient in others. For example, chimeras were unable to feed by themselves or to extend the column. This study illustrates the value of chimeras in deducing which cell types control the various aspects of development and behavior.