The Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes

Flashcards about the origin and diversification of eukaryotes.

Endosymbiosis

A symbiotic relationship in which one organism lives inside the body or cell of another organism.

Endosymbiont theory

The idea that mitochondria and plastids were formerly small bacteria that began living within larger cells.

Protist

Mostly unicellular eukaryotes.

Colonies

Collections of connected cells with little or no differentiation.

Choanoflagellates

Closest living relatives of animals.

Excavata

A supergroup of eukaryotes with contentious grouping based primarily on morphology of cytoplasm, includes euglenozoans like Giardia .

Diplomonads

Flagellates that are often parasitic with two nuclei

Parabasalids

Flagellates that are often symbiotic with other organisms, e.g., intestines of termites (help digest cellulose).

Euglenozoa

Flagellates that are often free living.

SAR

A supergroup of eukaryotes that includes stramenopiles, alveolates, and rhizarians.

Stramenopiles

Important photosynthetic organisms, including brown algae (kelps).

Alveolates

Some photosynthetic organisms, also include Plasmodium, which causes malaria.

Rhizarians

Amoebas with threadlike pseudopodia.

Archaeplastida

A supergroup of eukaryotes that contain plastids from 2º endosymbiosis and includes red algae, green algae, and plants.

Algae

Algae include unicellular, colonial, and multicellular species (“seaweeds”).

Unikonta

A supergroup of eukaryotes that is highly diverse and include animals, fungi, some protists