Patterning and assembly of ciliature are independent processes in hypotrich ciliates.

Mirror-imaged doublets of the hypotrich ciliate Pleurotricha lanceolata were induced and analyzed with respect to the overall patterning (structural asymmetry and polarity) of the individual components of the ciliature. The overall pattern is arranged as a mirror image, but the individual components in the two halves of the doublet show the same organizational asymmetry. These data demonstrate the independence of the mechanisms for this kind of large-scale (global) patterning and control of assembly of the individual ciliary components.