Abstract

Ciliates are very ancient and diverse clade of eukaryotes [1] it evolved around 2 billion years ago [2]. Some members of this group are very spectacular model organisms to study the genetics and molecular and developmental biology [3]. Ciliates reproduce both sexually as well as asexually [4]. During favorable conditions when plenty of food is available and ecological conditions are perfect, ciliates reproduce asexually by binary fission but during unfavorable condition when food resources are depleted and ecological conditions are unfavorable, they reproduce sexually through conjugation [5]. But there is a confusion existed between research communities and they have difference of opinion on the nature of conjugation process, either we call it sexual reproduction or not.