Practical 2: Diversity of Protista (eukaryotic cells)

Protista

A kingdom of single-celled eukaryotic organisms that lack a cell wall and have diverse methods of locomotion.

Cilia

Short, hair-like structures used by ciliates for movement and feeding.

Flagella

Long, whip-like appendages used by flagellates for movement.

Pseudopodia

Temporary extensions of cytoplasm used by amoebas for movement and engulfing food.

Paramecium

A type of ciliate that moves using cilia and has specialized structures for feeding and excretion.

Amoeba

A type of protist that moves using pseudopodia and engulfs food through phagocytosis.

Euglena

A flagellate that has chloroplasts for photosynthesis and an eyespot to detect light.

Bursaria

A large ciliate that preys on other microorganisms.

Arcella

A type of amoeba with a protective shell, capable of floating by producing gas bubbles.

Macronucleus

The larger nucleus in ciliates that controls the cell's everyday functions.

Micronucleus

The smaller nucleus in ciliates that is involved in sexual reproduction.

Food vacuole

A membrane-bound sac where food particles are digested inside protists.

Contractile vacuole

A structure that expels excess water from a protist's cell to maintain osmotic balance.

Trichocysts

Defensive structures in some ciliates that discharge when the organism is threatened.

Pellicle

A flexible outer layer found in some protists, providing support and shape.

Phagocytosis

A process where a cell engulfs food particles by surrounding them with its membrane.

Oral groove

A structure in ciliates like Paramecium that helps direct food into the cell.

Cytostome

The "cell mouth" in ciliates where food enters before digestion.

Suctorians

A group of ciliates that use tentacle-like structures to capture prey and extract nutrients.

Plasmolysis

The process where a cell loses water due to osmosis, causing it to shrink.

Lysosomes

Organelles in protists that contain enzymes to break down food inside food vacuoles.

Symbiotic relationship

An interaction between two species where both benefit, such as Paramecium bursaria and its algae.

Pond water observation

A method of studying live protists by collecting water samples from natural sources.

Microscope diaphragm

A part of the microscope used to adjust the amount of light passing through a specimen.