Volvox (Noun)
Meaning
Type genus of the Volvocaceae; minute pale green flagellates occurring in tiny spherical colonies; minute flagella rotate the colony about an axis.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Volvox is a type of green algae that has captivated scientists with its unique ability to form colonies and move about in a coordinated manner.
- The characteristics that define the genus Volvox include its tiny spherical colonies of flagellated cells that rotate as a single unit.
- Under a microscope, one can observe the synchronized movement of Volvox colonies, with individual cells using their minute flagella to propel the group about its axis.
- Biologists often study Volvox as a model organism to understand how cellular coordination and communication occur within a single species.
- The multicellular colonies of Volvox have led researchers to explore how this type of organization may have evolved in other organisms, including those that are more complex.