Lab 2: Protists

Protists!

Lab Goals

• Identify the three domains of life and the main characteristics of each

• Define protists and know why the group “Protista” is not an appropriate taxon

• Be able to recognize the main supergroups, subgroups, and kingdoms of protists

• Practice microscope skills

5 Kingdoms or 6 Kingdoms?

• Separation based on rRNA sequences.

• Kingdom Monera is comprised of 2 separate monophyletic groups:

1. Eubacteria2. Archaebacteria

Phylogenetic tree of Domain Eukarya

(“Protista” in yellow)

Why is Protista not a good kingdom?

• Solution:Domain (Eukarya)

SupergroupSubgroup Kingdom

Phylum Etc.

Linnaeus17352 kingdoms

Haeckel18663 kingdoms

Chatton19252 empires

Copeland19384 kingdoms

Whittaker19695 kingdoms

Woese et al.19776 kingdoms

Woese et al.19903 domains

(not treated) Protista

Prokaryota Monera Monera

Eubacteria Bacteria

Archaebacteria Archaea

Eukaryota

ProtistaProtista Protista

EukaryaVegetabilia Plantae

Fungi Fungi

Plantae Plantae Plantae

Animalia Animalia Animalia Animalia Animalia

The Prokaryotic Domains: Bacteria & Archaea

• Bacteria Domain Contain Peptidoglycan in

Cell Walls.

• Archaea Domain Contain Histones associated with DNA. Likely share more Recent Common

Ancestor with Eukaryotes than with Bacteria.

Live EVERYWHERE!

Three Domains of Life

Bacteria No nucleus Peptidoglycan in cell

walls

Archaea No nucleus Histones associated

with DNA.

Eukarya Membrane-bound

nucleus and organelles

Histones associated with DNA

Unicellular or Multicellular

More closely related to eachother than to Bacteria!

What is a protist?

• Protist=Eukaryote not classified as a plant, animal, or fungi– NOT a monophyletic group!

Why are protists important?

Why are protists important?

• Disease – “Beaver Fever”

(Giardia)

– Red Tide – Malaria – Toxoplasmosis – African Sleeping Sickness

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py-J1ZazHDM&feature=related

MICROSCOPES! (Appendix B, p.213-218)

• Start at 4x or 10x

• See manual for preparing slides

• Save any really good slides for others– Will save everyone time

• Clean the slides when you are done