Biology Quiz on Helminths and Fungi

The study of fungi.

A mass of hyphae, which are filaments of cells that make up the fungal thallus.

Unicellular fungi that reproduce through either symmetrical fission or asymmetrical budding.

Parasitic worms that have a complicated life cycle involving multiple hosts.

The definitive host is where the parasite reaches sexual maturity and reproduces. The intermediate host harbors the larval stage.

Parasitic flatworms that are either flukes or tapeworms.

Parasitic roundworms with a cylindrical body shape.

An organism that transmits a parasite from one host to another, but does not itself harbor the parasite.

A fungal infection that affects deep within the body, involving multiple tissues and organs.

A fungal infection beneath the skin.

A fungal infection affecting keratin-rich tissues like hair, nails, and skin.

A fungal infection localized on hair shafts and superficial skin cells.

A fungal infection caused by organisms that are not typically pathogenic but can cause infections under specific conditions.

A mutualistic relationship between an alga (or cyanobacterium) and a fungus.

Unicellular, filamentous, or multicellular (thallic) organisms that mostly inhabit aquatic environments.

The body of a multicellular alga, often composed of a stipe (stalk), holdfast (anchor), and blades (leaf-like structures).

Fungi are eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms that obtain nutrients by absorbing organic matter. They have cell walls made of chitin and are mostly multicellular, except for yeasts.

Asexual reproduction in fungi involves the production of spores from a single parent, resulting in genetically identical offspring. Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of two haploid nuclei, leading to genetic diversity.

Lichens are symbiotic associations between a fungus and an alga. The fungus provides structure and protection, while the alga provides food through photosynthesis.

Protozoa are unicellular eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophic and often motile. They can be found in diverse environments and play important roles in ecosystems.

Plasmodium undergoes sexual reproduction in the mosquito host, specifically in the female Anopheles mosquito.

Cellular slime molds are single-celled amoeba-like organisms that can aggregate to form a multicellular slug. Plasmodial slime molds are multinucleate, single-celled organisms that form large, flowing masses.

Parasitic helminths are multicellular worms that live in the body of a host and obtain nutrients from the host's tissues. They have complex life cycles that often involve multiple hosts and can cause diseases like schistosomiasis and hookworm infection.

Fungi are heterotrophic organisms that obtain nutrients by absorbing organic matter, while algae are photosynthetic organisms that produce their own food. Fungi have cell walls made of chitin, while algae have cell walls made of cellulose.

Photosynthetic organisms, vital to aquatic food chains, that produce oxygen and are the basis of petroleum.

Diatoms are a type of algae distinguished by their unique cell walls made of silica and pectin, often resembling tiny glass boxes.

Dinoflagellates are single-celled protists known for their characteristic whip-like flagella and ability to cause harmful algal blooms, producing toxins that can harm marine life and humans.

Protozoa encompass diverse single-celled organisms that are eukaryotic, meaning they have a nucleus within their cells, and are heterotrophic, meaning they obtain nutrients by consuming other organisms.

Amoebozoa are a group of single-celled organisms that move and feed using temporary extensions of their cytoplasm called pseudopodia and cause diseases like amoebic dysentery.

The vegetative form of protozoa, which is the actively feeding and reproducing stage, is called a trophozoite.

Apicomplexa are a group of parasitic protozoa characterized by a unique apical complex of organelles used for penetrating host cells, including causing malaria and cryptosporidiosis.

Cellular slime molds are unique organisms that exist in a solitary, amoeba-like stage and can aggregate into a multicellular slug-like form when food is scarce, resembling their plasmodial relatives during this stage.

Multicellular animals that are adapted to parasitic lifestyles within host organisms. Some are responsible for diseases in humans.

The host in which a parasitic helminth reaches its adult stage and reproduces sexually, if it does.

A host that harbors the larval stage of a parasitic helminth, often required for development.

Flatworms, also known as platyhelminthes, with a digestive system lacking an anus.

A type of flatworm that consists of a head with hooks or suckers, and a body made up of segments called proglottids.

Roundworms, also known as nematodes, that have a complete digestive system.

Arthropods, like ticks and insects, that act as carriers of disease-causing parasites.

Diseases that are transmitted by vectors, requiring the presence and activity of these carriers to spread.