Follow the leader: A new study of #flagella in #algae reveals how they coordinate their movements to ensure cells steer efficiently https://elifesciences.org/digests/86102/follow-the-leader #protists #microbes
The younger flagellum sets the beat for #Chlamydomonas reinhardtii https://elifesciences.org/articles/86102
"To steer, C. reinhardtii adjusts the strength of the strokes made by each flagellum. Despite this asymmetry, the flagella must continue to beat in synchrony to move efficiently."
The younger flagellum sets the beat for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
External hydrodynamic forcing on each flagellum of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii reveals a leader-follower relation between the two flagella in the synchronous beating.Da Wei (eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd)