Chapter 27 Protists

Dinoflagellates

alveolata subgroup made up of photosynthetic algae (plant-like protists) that glow in the dark and cause red tides

haploid

has one set of chromosomes

diploid

has sets of paired chromosomes

decomposition

converting organic molecules to their inorganic forms

phagocytosis

process in which extensions of cytoplasm surround and engulf large particles and take them into the cell (cell eating). Cannot be done if you have a cell wall .

sexual reproduction

A reproductive process that involves two parents that combine their genetic material to produce a new organism, which differs from both parents (less efficient, but more genetic variability - favored in changing environments)

asexual reproduction

A reproductive process that involves only one parent and produces offspring that are identical to the parent. (very efficient, but less/no diversity - favored in unchanging environments)

paraphyletic

pertaining to a grouping of species that consists of an ancestral species and some, but not all, of its descendants. (e.g. protists)

endosymbiotic theory

Ancestors of mitochondria and chloroplasts was prokaryotes thatcame to live in a host cell. Mitochondria are most similar to proteobacteria and chloroplasts are most similar to cyanobacteria.

amoeboid

cell that moves and engulfs debris with pseudopods

fertilization

Process in sexual reproduction in which male and female gametes (1N each) join to form a new cell (Zygote - 2N)

green algae

Photosynthetic protists that include unicellular, colonial, and multicellular species with grass green chloroplasts; closely related to true plants.

plasmodial slime molds

A type of protist that has amoeboid cells, flagellated cells, and an amoeboid plasmodial feeding stage in its life cycle.

red algae

marine algae in which the chlorophyll is masked by a red or purplish pigment (some have carrageenan - an additive in ice cream)

spore (plants)

A haploid reproductive cell of a plant. and certain algae with alternation of generations

flagellum

A long, hairlike structure that grows out of a cell and enables the cell to move.

red queen hypothesis

each species has to run (evolve) as fast as possible just to stay in place -- because predators, competitors, and parasites also continue to evolve

sporophyte

Diploid, or spore-producing, phase of a plant or certain algae. Makes haploid spores by meiosis.

gametophyte

The haploid stage in the life cycle of a plant or green algae in which the plant produces gametes, or sex cells by mitosis.

autotroph

An organism that makes its own food by fixing carbon dioxide to make usable carbon.

gamete

a mature haploid male or female cells that can unite with another of the opposite type sexual reproduction to form a zygote.

red tides

A red, orange, or brown coloration of water caused by a bloom, or population explosion of algae; many cause serious environmental harm and threaten the health of humans and animals

Choanoflagellates

a group of free-living unicellular and colonial flagellate eukaryotes considered to be the closest living relatives of the animals.

meiosis

a type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, as in the production of gametes and plant spores.

mitosis

cell division in which the nucleus divides into nuclei containing the same number of chromosomes

Trypanosoma

protist that causes African sleeping sickness

plasmodium (malaria cause)

Protist that is carried by mosquitoes and is the cause of malaria - has a complex life cycle.

pseudopods

false feet - how amoebas move and engulf food