image by CJ Kazilek
SUMMER 2003 MYSTERY IMAGE
This is one of our pictures of a single pollen grain. It was
taken using a scanning-laser confocal microscope. These microscopes take many
images of a sample at different depths. Each image, or as we call them slice, is
saved and later the entire group of images are put back together using a
computer. The final image has much more detail than a standard microscope. You
can learn more about how confocal microscopes work at this web page.
http://paperproject.org/slcmtechnology.html What
is the purpose of those "bumps" on the surface? That's
a good question. If they actually have a function it could be one of the
following.
-
They may be left over from the process that formed the
pollen grains or may have to do with the way they were packed together.
-
They may also have some quite prosaic, molecular level
function like holding water (by capillary attraction) close to the outer
surface of the grain long enough to allow hydration.
-
They may be a method of "directing" the growth of
the pollen tube on germination.
-
They may be low frequency interstellar communication antennae.
We are not quite sure if they have a function. Maybe you will be
the scientist that finds out.
If you are curious, here are some numbers from our list of guesses.
- 21% Brain or brain cell
- 18% Cell
- 11% Egg
- 11% Pollen
- 11% Virus
- 7% D.N.A.
- 3% Atom
Some of the creative single answers are listed below.
- Ants underground
- The formation of DNA, the pink strands being the nucleotides
- A cell covered with flat worms
- Brain cells while watching color T.V.
- Part of the brain that detects color
- Maybe a virus or a type of sea animal that lives deep in the ocean and makes
its own light.
- It's the egg of a T. Rex in the mutational, evolutionary, stage as described
by a fictional novel.
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