Microbiology - Protists

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering the terminology, definitions, and key concepts related to protists and their classification within microbiology.

Eukaryotic origins

Eukaryotic cells differ from prokaryotes due to the presence of a complex cytoskeleton and compartmentalization.

Endosymbiosis

Evolution of organelles through the engulfing of bacterial cells by ancestral eukaryotic cells.

Mitosis

Process of cell division in eukaryotes that involves multiple chromosomes.

Protists

The most diverse of the four eukaryotic kingdoms, classified by exclusion from fungi, plants, and animals.

Unicellular

Organisms consisting of a single cell.

Multicellularity

Organisms composed of multiple cells, which can arise through convergent evolution.

Binary fission

A method of replication used by mitochondria and chloroplasts, resembling bacterial reproduction.

Cilia

Short, hair-like structures used for locomotion in some protists.

Pseudopodia

Temporary projections of cytoplasm used by amoebas for movement and feeding.

Haplodiplontic lifecycle

A lifecycle in which both haploid and diploid stages are multicellular.

Dinoflagellates

Photosynthetic unicellular organisms that live in aquatic environments and can be luminescent.

Apicomplexans

Spore-forming parasites with a complex life cycle, such as Plasmodium, which causes malaria.

Alveolata

A group of protists characterized by flattened vesicles called alveoli.

Stramenopila

Includes organisms like brown algae, diatoms, and oomycetes, often characterized by hairy flagella.

Euglenozoa

Provides early evidence of eukaryotic cells possessing mitochondria; includes free-living euglenids and parasitic kinetoplastids.

Contractile vacuoles

Structures that regulate water balance in ciliates.

Rhodophyta

Red algae known for their photosynthetic pigments and lack of flagella.

Cercozoa

Diverse group of primarily soil protists with varied modes of locomotion.

Amoebozoa

Group of protists characterized by their use of pseudopods for movement.

Opisthokonta

Supergroup that includes choanoflagellates, fungi, and animals, sharing a common ancestor.