GROWTH AND FUNCTIONING OF UNICELLULAR ORG ANISMS IN CONDITIONS OF ALTERED GRAVITY

The results of studies over many years on various types of unicellular free;swimming organisms in conditions of altered gravity (hyper-, hyp o-, and microgravity ranging from 10(-5) to 5 g) were reviewed. Laws g overning their growth and functioning under these conditions were esta blished. In general, gravisensing of unicellular free-swimming organis ms depends on their metabolic activity and mobility, on the one hand, and on the environmental conditions of the population, on the other. A working hypothesis on the priority of ecophysiological properties (en vironment, metabolic activity, and mobility) over morphological proper ties (mass, dimensions, and shape) in receiving and processing of grav ity stimuli at the cellular level has been formulated.