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What is the primary function of contractile vacuoles in protists?
What is the primary function of contractile vacuoles in protists?
Which type of protist nutrition involves the absorption of soluble products?
Which type of protist nutrition involves the absorption of soluble products?
What is the process by which gametes fuse in sexual reproduction of protists?
What is the process by which gametes fuse in sexual reproduction of protists?
Which organelle is responsible for energy production in aerobic chemoorganotrophic protists?
Which organelle is responsible for energy production in aerobic chemoorganotrophic protists?
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What is the term for the dormant state of protists characterized by a simplified structure and low metabolic activity?
What is the term for the dormant state of protists characterized by a simplified structure and low metabolic activity?
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Which type of protist is capable of photosynthetic energy production?
Which type of protist is capable of photosynthetic energy production?
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What is the primary mode of nutrition in saprophytic protists?
What is the primary mode of nutrition in saprophytic protists?
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Which type of protist is characterized by the presence of mitochondria and chloroplasts?
Which type of protist is characterized by the presence of mitochondria and chloroplasts?
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What is the purpose of phagocytic vacuoles in protists?
What is the purpose of phagocytic vacuoles in protists?
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What is the primary mode of reproduction in protists during the asexual stage?
What is the primary mode of reproduction in protists during the asexual stage?
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What type of protists have a cell wall composed of silica and exhibit unique patterns?
What type of protists have a cell wall composed of silica and exhibit unique patterns?
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Which type of nutrition involves the absorption of soluble products?
Which type of nutrition involves the absorption of soluble products?
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What is the process by which some protists simplify in structure and become dormant?
What is the process by which some protists simplify in structure and become dormant?
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What is the term used to describe the informal grouping of over 64,000 species of eukaryotes?
What is the term used to describe the informal grouping of over 64,000 species of eukaryotes?
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What is the function of contractile vacuoles in some protists?
What is the function of contractile vacuoles in some protists?
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What is the term used to describe protists that obtain nutrients from dead organic matter?
What is the term used to describe protists that obtain nutrients from dead organic matter?
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Which structure is derived from secondary endosymbiosis in some protists?
Which structure is derived from secondary endosymbiosis in some protists?
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What is the term used to describe the process of fusion of gametes in protists?
What is the term used to describe the process of fusion of gametes in protists?
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What is the term used to describe the grouping of species from many phyla, including Chlorophytes and Euglenids?
What is the term used to describe the grouping of species from many phyla, including Chlorophytes and Euglenids?
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What is the term used to describe the structure formed by individual cells in a mass, with cells retaining their cell membrane?
What is the term used to describe the structure formed by individual cells in a mass, with cells retaining their cell membrane?
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What is the primary role of chemoorganotrophic protists in ecosystems?
What is the primary role of chemoorganotrophic protists in ecosystems?
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What is the characteristic that distinguishes parasitic protists from free-living protists?
What is the characteristic that distinguishes parasitic protists from free-living protists?
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What is the function of mitochondria in photosynthetic protists?
What is the function of mitochondria in photosynthetic protists?
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Which type of protist is characterized by the ability to absorb soluble products?
Which type of protist is characterized by the ability to absorb soluble products?
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What is the purpose of vacuoles in osmoregulation?
What is the purpose of vacuoles in osmoregulation?
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Which group of protists includes green algae?
Which group of protists includes green algae?
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What is the result of the syngamy process in protists?
What is the result of the syngamy process in protists?
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What is the term for the grouping of over 64,000 eukaryotic species?
What is the term for the grouping of over 64,000 eukaryotic species?
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What is the main difference between aerobic and anaerobic chemoorganotrophic protists?
What is the main difference between aerobic and anaerobic chemoorganotrophic protists?
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What is the function of phagocytic vacuoles in protists?
What is the function of phagocytic vacuoles in protists?
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What is the characteristic that distinguishes photolithoautotrophic protists from chemoorganotrophic protists?
What is the characteristic that distinguishes photolithoautotrophic protists from chemoorganotrophic protists?
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What is the primary function of the smaller hypotheca in asexual reproduction?
What is the primary function of the smaller hypotheca in asexual reproduction?
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What is the characteristic feature of testate amoebae?
What is the characteristic feature of testate amoebae?
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What is the term used to describe the ability of some protists to obtain nutrients from dead organic matter through enzymatic degradation?
What is the term used to describe the ability of some protists to obtain nutrients from dead organic matter through enzymatic degradation?
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What is the primary function of the stalk formed by the bottom cell in a pseudoplasmodium?
What is the primary function of the stalk formed by the bottom cell in a pseudoplasmodium?
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What is the characteristic feature of naked amoebae?
What is the characteristic feature of naked amoebae?
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What is the primary function of phagocytic vacuoles in some protists?
What is the primary function of phagocytic vacuoles in some protists?
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What is the term used to describe the process of a cyst form returning to its original state under favourable conditions?
What is the term used to describe the process of a cyst form returning to its original state under favourable conditions?
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What is the characteristic feature of protists that have a cell wall composed of silica?
What is the characteristic feature of protists that have a cell wall composed of silica?
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What is the primary function of the tip cells in a pseudoplasmodium?
What is the primary function of the tip cells in a pseudoplasmodium?
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What is the characteristic feature of multicellular protists in their life cycle?
What is the characteristic feature of multicellular protists in their life cycle?
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Study Notes
Overview of Eukaryotes and Protists
- Over 64,000 species classified under eukaryotes, primarily unicellular.
- Lacks complex tissue organization seen in higher eukaryotes.
Habitat and Distribution
- Found in diverse moist environments, predominantly free-living.
- Chemoorganotrophic forms essential for recycling nitrogen and phosphorus in ecosystems.
- Terrestrial and planktonic forms exist; some are parasitic, causing diseases in humans and domesticated animals.
Nutritional Types of Protists
- Chemoorganoheterotrophs:
- Saprophytic: Obtain nutrients from dead organic matter through enzymatic degradation.
- Osmotrophic: Absorb soluble nutrients directly.
- Holozoic nutrition: Gain solid nutrients via phagocytosis.
- Parasitic protists extract nutrients from hosts.
- Photolithoautotrophs, like green algae, utilize photosynthesis for energy.
Vacuoles and Their Functions
- Common presence of vacuoles:
- Contractile vacuoles: Crucial for osmoregulation to maintain osmotic balance.
- Phagocytic vacuoles: Involved in digesting prey organisms.
Energy Production
- Mitochondria are integral to aerobic chemoorganotrophic protists.
- Photosynthetic protists contain both chloroplasts and mitochondria.
Reproductive Strategies
- Both asexual and sexual reproduction observed.
- Asexual reproduction typically via binary fission.
- Sexual reproduction through gamete fusion in synagamy, which can occur within or between individuals.
Encystment and Excystment
- Encystment: Some protists become dormant, simplifying structure with a protective cell wall and low metabolic activity to withstand environmental stress.
- Excystment: Reversion to active state triggered by favorable conditions.
Locomotion and Nutrient Acquisition
- Utilize pseudopodia for movement and capturing food.
- Naked amoebae are characterized by being surrounded solely by plasma membrane.
- Testate amoebae possess a membrane covered by environmental material.
Classification and Grouping
- Informally, the term 'protists' describes photosynthetic organisms.
- Paraphyletic group includes various phyla like Chlorophytes and some Euglenids.
Unique Structures
- Frustule: A two-part cell wall made of silica with intricate patterns, specific to certain protists.
- Plastids have origins from secondary endosymbiosis.
Multicellularity and Cellular Organization
- Multicellularity observed in life cycles, offering models for study.
- Pseudoplasmodium: Cells retain individual membranes but move collectively; starved cells release signals promoting aggregation and differentiation, leading to the formation of stalks and spores.
Immune-like Cell Differentiation
- Some cells in aggregates differentiate to resemble primitive immune cells, showcasing potential for complex behaviors.
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Description
Learn about the characteristics and classification of protists, including their distribution, forms, and roles in different ecosystems. Discover how they contribute to nutrient cycling and cause diseases in humans and animals. Test your knowledge of these unique organisms.
