06/04/2026
Meet Euplotes gigatrox, a cell capable of transforming into a cannibalistic supergiant, discovered by RPI’s Ben Larson.
E. gigatrox begins its life as a normal single-celled organism feeding on bacteria, but under certain conditions can develop into a “supergiant,” growing to more than twice its original length, with a larger mouth and broader body. Once transformed, it begins to hunt and capture its genetically identical relatives, swallowing prey whole at a rate of roughly one every ten minutes.
Published on the cover of PNAS, the research provides new information on what single-celled organisms are capable of and provides a new framework for studying their development.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/43NSNJE
Image: Euplotes gigatrox cell, imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), produced by Ben Larson and Samuel Lord.
