from
"Basal Body and Flagellar Development during the Vegetative
Cell Cycle and the Sexual cycle of Chlamydomonas Reinhardii"
T. Cavalier-Smith
Journel Cell Science 16, 529-556 (1974)
These images are cross-section views of the flagella of the algae chlamydomonas. These are magnified by an electron microscope 120,000 times. They have a remarkable similarity to the 9-pointed star symbolic of the Bahá'í Faith, and further the tip of each star appears like the Arabic letter há, familiar to Bahá'ís from the ringstone symbol.
For more information on this algae, see the Chlamydomonas Genetics Center. For an article with a discussion of the flagelle, see www.jyi.org/issues/currentIssue/features/tang.html. For a scientific graphic of this cross-section, which helps explain the star-like and há-like formations, see www.nibb.ac.jp/~cellcomm/kenkyu1.html .
Finally, this entire article can be downloaded as a PDF (2.9MB), scanned by Jeanine Gunasekaran.
 Image one click for larger image |
 Image two click for larger image |
 Entire page click for larger image |
- Transverse section through the distal part of the transitional region. That part of the annular connexion lying between the outer doublets and the membrane is not homogeneous but contains densities placed in pairs (arrows) opposite each doublet outer projection. x120,000
- Transverse section through the proximal part of the transitional region's basal cylindar. Doublet outer projections and paired densities are present, and B-tubules knobs can be seen clearly in places (arrows). The flagellar surface coat is very well preserved. x120,000
