Fungi, Protoctists & Prokaryotes

Question-and-answer flashcards covering the main characteristics and examples of fungi, protoctists, and prokaryotes.

What are three key structural characteristics common to all fungi?

They are usually multicellular, their cells contain nuclei, and their cell walls are not made of cellulose.

How do fungi obtain their nutrients?

By saprophytic nutrition on dead/decaying material or by parasitic nutrition on living material; they do not photosynthesize.

Give three common examples of organisms classified as fungi.

Moulds, mushrooms, and yeast.

What cellular features are shared by all protoctists?

All protoctists have a nucleus; most are unicellular, though some are multicellular, and some possess cell walls and chloroplasts.

Why do only some protoctists contain chloroplasts?

Because some protoctists photosynthesize, while others obtain food from organic substances made by other organisms.

Name two well-known protoctist organisms.

Amoeba and Paramecium (Plasmodium is another example).

List the main cellular features of prokaryotes.

They are often unicellular, have cell walls not made of cellulose, contain cytoplasm, and lack a nucleus and mitochondria.

Which key organelles found in fungi and protoctists are absent in prokaryotes?

A true nucleus and mitochondria.

How do prokaryotic cell walls differ from the cell walls of plants?

Prokaryotic cell walls are not made of cellulose, whereas plant cell walls are.

Are prokaryotes generally unicellular or multicellular?

They are often unicellular.