# @seed on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/BghL0pTDxf_
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/34248023-seed-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/a077867cce.jpg
- **Posted:** 2018-03-19T20:39:06.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Seed (@seed) — https://gondola.cc/seed

## Caption

The #Hawaiian bobtail #squid (Euprymna scolopes) is not only possibly the most adorable squid in #existence, it's also a #glowing example of #symbiosis. Literally.⠀⠀
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Its underside contains a two-chambered #light organ that is full of #luminous #bacteria called Vibrio fischeri who feed off of a sugar and amino acid solution produced by the squid. At night, this bacterial glow matches the #moonlight from above the #ocean, canceling out the squid's #silhouette and hiding it from predators.⠀⠀
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The #relationship begins in a newborn squid, where beating #cilia first draw in a mix of bacteria. When just five V. fischeri cells touch the squid, a whole host of squid #genes are triggered—some creating a toxic environment for other #microbes and others producing a substance that attracts even more V. fischeri. Once inside, a cascade of further changes seal the V. fishcheri within.⠀⠀
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V. fischeri, alone, has the ability to #colonize the bobtail squid, and it alone has the power to establish the squid's light #organ and complete its journey to #maturity. This learning led #scientists to a profound #discovery—that microbes can sculpt animal bodies.⠀⠀
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Source | Photo: Doug Perrine⠀⠀

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 79
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- **Comments:** 1

## Tags

genes, glowing, existence, light, microbes, silhouette, squid, ocean, luminous, scientists, maturity, bacteria, moonlight, hawaiian, cilia, discovery, colonize, relationship, organ, symbiosis

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