Midterm 2 Flashcards
characteristics of eukaryotic cells
- presence of a nucleus
- dynamic cytoskeleton and membranes
endosymbiotic hypothesis (theory of endosymbiosis)
chloroplasts and mitochondria of eukaryotic cells were originally free-living bacteria that were incorporated into a host cell
- each have 2nd membrane and own DNA
- genes lost by transfer to nucleus
Eukaryotic kingdoms
animals, plants, fungi, protists
now 7 super kingdoms:
1) opsithokonts
2) amoebozoans
3) archaeplastids
4) stramenopila
5) alveolata
6) rhizaria
7) excavata
cytoskeleton
internal protein scaffolding – filaments of actin and microtubules
- can be remodeled quickly, enabling cells to change shape (not possible with cell wall)
- functional flexibility: movement to obtain food, vacuoles and organelles to store and digest
- enables endo/exocytosis
endo/exocytosis
membrane-lined vesicles transport through the cytoskeleton by molecular motors (much faster than diffusion) allows eukaryotes to grow in size
endomembrane system consists of:
nuclear envelope, ER, Golgi apparatus, cell/plasma membrane
phagocytosis
engulfing of food particles, even other cells
eukaryotic metabolism localized in:
mitochondria and chloroplasts
Eukaryotic DNA organization
–multiple linear chromosomes & multiple replication sites allow for rapid and simultaneous replication
(singular circular prokaryotic DNA harder for fast replication)
–non-coding DNA functions in gene expression
–more complex, different cell types, growth & development
eukaryotes w/ bacteria and archaeons
eukaryotes did not outcompete bacteria and archaeons but developed novel functions
sex promotes genetic diversity via:
1) meiotic division produces genetically unique daughter cells
2) recombination
3) independent assortment
4) fertilization – egg and sperm combinations
symbiont
organism that lives in closely evolved association with another species
protist diversity
algae - photosynthetic protists
protozoa - heterotrophic protists
some live in tests – “houses” constructed of organic molecules
Opsithokonts
- most diverse eukaryotic superkingdom (75% of all species 1.8 mil + species)
- flagellated cells - single flagellum
- (animals and fungi) heterotrophic, but some have photosynthetic symbionts
- includes choanoflagellates
- includes microsporidia: parasites inside animal cells; spores in external enviro
choanoflagellates
group of mostly unicellular protists within the superkingdom opsithokonts.
characterized by ring of microvilli: fingerlike projections that form a collar around the cell’s single flagellum
– close relationship to animals
Amoebozoans
group of eukaryotes with amoeba-like cells that move and gather food by means of pseudopodia
- more than 1000 species described
- plasmodial slime molds are coenocytic: multiple nuclei within one giant cell
- cellular slime molds aggregate into a multicellular “slug” for feeding
Archaeplastids
- 2nd most conspicuous and diverse group of eukaryotes
- includes land plants
- nearly all photosynthetic; direct descendants of protist that first evolved chloroplats from endosymbiotic cyanobacteria
- includes galucocystophytes: small group of single-celled algae found in freshwater ponds and lakes w/ more features of ancestral cyanobacterial endosymbiont than any other algae
- includes red algae
- includes green algae (viridoplantae)
red algae
- 5000+ species known, mostly marine enviro and multicellular
- principle photosynthetic pigment is chlorophyll a
- coralline algae secretes CaCO3 – live by corals – resist breaking waves
- nori, agar
green algae
from viridoplantae
- diverse assortment ~10,000 marine species, some coenocytic
- have chlorophyll a and b in chloroplasts
- unique attachment for flagella
Stramenopiles
- characterized by two flagella – one smooth, one hairy
- includes brown algae (giant kelps) and protozoa (free living cells & parasites)
- include diatoms
diatoms (stramenopiles)
- skeletons/cell walls of silica
- 1/2 of all primary production in the ocean
- 1/4 of all photosynthesis on earth (more than tropical rainforests)
- 10,000+ known species
Alveolates
cortical alveoli – small vessicles packed beneath the cell surface; in some store calcium ions for use by the cell
- dinoflagellates – photosynthetic, cellulose walls, red tide, bioluminescence
- ciliates – heterotrophic protists with two nuclei in each cell and numerous short flagella (cilia)
- apicomplexans, plasmodium species causes malaria
Excavata
- free-living, parasitic or symbiotic
- - includes euglenids (have chloroplats) and giardia (causes diarrhea)
eukaryotic lifestyle
alternation between sexual and asexual
alternation between haploid and diploid phase
animals – multicellular stage is diploid (dominates life cycle), only haploid phase is gamete
plants – 2 multicellular phases, 1 haploid, 1 diploid