Endosymbiotic Theory and Evolution of Cyanobacteria Quiz

Apicomplexans

• A common characteristic of Apicomplexans is the presence of an apical complex, which is a structure involved in cell invasion and parasitism.

Ciliate Conjugation

• During Ciliate Conjugation, the macronuclei are destroyed and then rebuilt.
• The result of micronuclei division in Ciliate Conjugation is the exchange of genetic material between two ciliates.

Ciliates

• Ciliates are characterized by having sacs called 'alveoli' in their cell membrane.
• The primary function of the cilia in Ciliates is for locomotion and feeding.
• The process by which ciliates exchange genetic information without reproducing is called conjugation.

Eukaryotic Cells

• The primary reason for the loss of the cell wall in eukaryotic cells was to allow for greater flexibility and movement.
• The ratio of surface area to volume is important in cell biology because it affects the rate of cellular processes such as diffusion and metabolism.
• The unique chemical reactions that occurred in the newly formed enclosed environments in eukaryotic cells were aerobic respiration and photosynthesis.
• The cellular process facilitated by the new flexible cell membrane in eukaryotes was endocytosis and phagocytosis.

Endosymbiosis

• The evolutionary event that allowed for endosymbiosis to occur in eukaryotes was the engulfment of bacteria by ancient eukaryotic cells.
• Endosymbiosis led to the acquisition of mitochondria and chloroplasts in eukaryotic cells.
• Mitochondria evolved from a proteobacterium through a process of endosymbiosis.
• Chloroplasts with 2 membranes were formed in photosynthetic eukaryotes as a result of primary endosymbiosis.
• Chloroplasts with 3 membranes are found in some algae and plants as a result of secondary endosymbiosis.

Protists

• The main reason why Protists are considered a 'garbage bin' classification is that they are a diverse group of eukaryotic organisms that do not fit into any other kingdom.
• Dinoflagellates are a type of protist that play a significant role in the marine ecosystem as both producers and consumers.

Evolution

• The domain that includes multicellular eukaryotes like plants, animals, and fungi is Eukarya.
• The common characteristic of chloroplasts in glaucophytes, green algae, red algae, and land plants is that they are surrounded by two membranes.
• The loss of peptidoglycan in chloroplasts of some groups was a significant event in the evolution of chloroplasts.

Test your knowledge on the endosymbiotic theory and the evolution of cyanobacteria, including the process of photosynthesis and the origin of mitochondria in eukaryotic cells. Learn about primary, secondary, and tertiary endosymbiosis events that contributed to the development of photosynthetic eukaryotes.