Protists

Flashcards covering the key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on protists.

Protist

The informal name of several groups of mostly unicellular eukaryotes.

Polyphyletic group

A group consisting of members that do not share an immediate common ancestor.

Eukaryotic cells

Cells that have organelles and are more complex than prokaryotic cells.

Photoautotrophs

Organisms that contain chloroplasts and can perform photosynthesis.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that absorb organic molecules or ingest larger food particles.

Mixotrophs

Organisms that combine photosynthesis and heterotrophic nutrition.

Excavata

A supergroup of protists characterized by a feeding groove and modified mitochondria.

SAR Clade

A supergroup that includes Stramenopiles and Alveolates, previously combined groups.

Diatoms

Unicellular algae with a unique two-part, glass-like wall of hydrated silica.

Apicomplexans

Parasites of animals that often cause serious diseases and have a complex life cycle.

Plasmodium

The genus of the apicomplexan that causes malaria.

Amoebozoans

Protists that have lobe- or tube-shaped pseudopodia, including slime molds and gymnamoebas.

Physarum polycephalum

A large, single-celled amoeboid organism known for its ability to navigate and form networks.

Phycoerythrin

An accessory pigment that gives red algae their reddish color.