Lesson 5: The Protists

Question 1

What are protists?

Answer 1

they are the most diverse kingdom of eukaryotes
ex: they can be large or small, stationary or mobile, aquatic or terrestrial

Question 2

Protist plasmodium

Answer 2

• the protist disease of the greatest concern to humans (malaria)
• caused by several species of plasmodium, which are single celled protists

Question 3

Protist giardia lamblia

Answer 3

• common intestinal parasite that gives you “beaver fever”
• often found in bodies of water, especially those by beaver dams
• if you drink infected water symptoms may be: abdominal pain, diarrhea, inflammation of the gut

Question 4

Protist trichomonas vaginalis

Answer 4

• most common sexually transmitted diseases (protozoan parasite)
• both genders can be infected from this parasite, but it is generally asymptomatic towards men, thus they tend to be the carriers
• symptoms include: itching and burning sensations
• can usually be treated with antibiotics

Question 5

Protist porphyra

Answer 5

• this protist is useful to humans
• the seaweed that wraps sushi rolls is the common name for several species of porphyra
• also used in toothpastes, cosmestics, paints, and the food additives agar and carrageenan

Question 6

Why are protists important?

Answer 6

• protists play a key role in aquatic ecosystems; they may perform photosynthesis, acting as the producers- if they are consumers, they support the macroscopic food pyramids
• they also play a role in terrestrial ecosystems; ex: they are abundant in soil

Question 7

Origin of protists (how was everything developed?)

Answer 7

• they were the first eukaryotes
• nucleus was likely developed from the internal folding of cell membrane
• organelles like the mitochondria and chloroplasts likely developed from endosymbiosis of prokaryotic cells

Question 8

What is endosymbiosis?

Answer 8

when one type of cell is taken in and lives within another cell

Question 9

Classification of protists

Answer 9

protists are classified differently from other kingdoms; they are more of a kingdom for species that do not fit into any other kingdoms (thus this is why they are the exception to why protists do not belong in a single clade)

Question 10

Protist characteristics?

Answer 10

due to the diversity of protists, there is no “typical” protist; they have different energy sources, cellular features, reproduction cycles, and interactions with their environment