======Termite Guts======


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**Alternative titles:** Termite Dissection
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Obtain a few worker termites from a colony or commercial source.  
  - Prepare a clean microscope slide and a drop of saline solution.  
  - Place a termite on the slide and, using fine forceps, gently grasp the tip of its abdomen.  
  - Carefully pull to extract the hindgut from the termite’s abdomen; it should appear as a whitish tube.  
  - Place the hindgut into the drop of saline and gently tease it open to release the gut contents.  
  - Add a cover slip and observe under a microscope, starting at low magnification.  
  - Identify and sketch the various protists visible in the sample.  



====Links==== 
What's Inside a Termite's Gut? - Walter Reed Army Institute of Research: 
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====Variations====
  * Compare protists from different termite species to see variation in gut symbionts.  
  * Use stains such as methylene blue to highlight cellular features.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Wear gloves and safety goggles when handling termites and dissecting tools.  
  * Dispose of biological materials according to school or institutional biosafety guidelines.  
  * Clean and disinfect all surfaces and tools after use.  
  * Do not release termites or biological waste into the environment.




====Questions to Consider====
  * What role do the protists play in the termite’s digestion? (They produce enzymes that break down cellulose into simpler sugars the termite can absorb.)  
  * Why can’t termites digest wood on their own? (They lack the necessary enzymes and depend on the protists for cellulose breakdown.)  
  * What might happen to a termite if its gut protists were lost? (The termite would be unable to digest wood and would eventually starve.)  
  * How does this relationship illustrate symbiosis? (It is a mutualistic relationship where both organisms benefit—the termite gets nutrients, and the protists gain a habitat and food source.)