ABSTRACT
198As a typical ciliated protozoan, Tetrahymena cells compartmentalize their germline and somatic genetic information into two different nuclei within the same cell. This compartmentalization permits experimental manipulation not possible in other systems and has resulted in fundamental discoveries in cell and molecular biology. The optimal way to preserve the germline genetic integrity of Tetrahymena cell lines during laboratory storage is by maintaining the cells frozen at liquid nitrogen temperature. The Tetrahymena Stock Center (TSC) was originally established to preserve and distribute valuable strains of wild type and mutant Tetrahymena. More than 2200 strains representing dozens of species and a variety of mutant and genetically modified cell lines are currently available to the scientific research community at TSC. As TSC has grown, it has leveraged its resources to maintain a Tetrahymena Genome Database and to provide a large array of valuable research products and services to the research community.
The TSC carries out a proactive research and educational community outreach targeting K-12 and college undergraduate students, including a community-based Tetrahymena barcoding research project. As the use of its resource grows, the TSC will continue its mission to support existing resources while identifying new and changing needs and evolving the best means to serve the research and educational communities.
