What is a Protist?• Unicellular or multicellular• Microscopic or very large• Heterotrophic or

Autotrophic• What do they have in

common?– All protists are eukaryotic,

meaning they have membrane bound organelles. (like us!)

• Live in moist environments.

• Categorized by their method of nutrition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCfg3sywC7k

Animal-like Protists• Called protozoa (protozoan singular)• All protozoa are unicellular• Heterotrophic• Are grouped on how they move

– Cilia (Ciliates)• Reproduce asexually and use its cilia, oral groove, gullet and food

vacuoles in the process of digestion– Flagella (Flagellates)

• African Sleeping sickness, help termites digest wood– Cytoplasm containing pseudopodia (Amoeboid)

• Amoebas reproduce asexually and can form cysts in extreme conditions

• One group causes disease called sporozoans– Most produce spores (a reproductive cell that forms without

fertilization and produces a new organism)– Parasites– 300 Million people globally have Malaria

• Examples:– Paramecium– Foraminiferans– Amoebas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_Xi3hnhtbg

Fungus-like Protists

• Decompose dead organisms

• Heterotrophic / Decomposers

• Unlike Fungi…– Can move around during

some point in their life– Do not have chitin in their

cell walls

• Examples: – Slime Molds– Water Molds– Downy Mildews

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pNGhW9BiZE

Ewww.. we’re gross!

Dude, I know.

Plant-like Protists• Called algae (alga singular)• Do not have organs like roots,

stems and leaves• Produce most of the Oxygen in

the atmosphere and the basis for aquatic food chains.

• Undergo the process of photosynthesis to make their own food (Autotrophic)– Note: Euglena can also be

heterotrophic • Examples:

– Euglena– Diatoms (silica shells)– Dinoflagellates (red tides)– Red, Brown, Green algae

• Green algae were likely ancestral plants.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rNI8Bos_BQ&feature=related

Plant-like Protists:Alternation of Generations

• The life cycles of some algae and all plants have a pattern called alternation of generations.

• Alternates between haploid and diploid generations

• Haploid form is called the gametophyte because it produces gametes.

• The gametes fuse to form a zygote which form the diploid part of the organism is called the sporophyte.

• Eventually these cells become haploid spores that can develop into a new gametophyte. http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/

bio106/protista.htm

paramecium

volvox

Amoebas, different from parasites, which come in the form of worms, are tiny microscopic organisms that live in the intestines, causing diarrhea with blood and other intestinal problems. They can also be found in the mouth, bladder and vagina.

Symptoms: Often involve fever and diarrhea, which are frequently accompanied with blood and/or mucous, with a discharge and an urge to have a bowel movement, as well as intestinal inflammation.In some cases the diarrhea with bouts of constipation, with one occurring for several days, followed by the other, etc. (Amoebic dysentery).Sometimes pains occur in the form of colic and stomach cramps with the constant need to go to the bathroom.When diarrhea becomes yellow containing neither mucous nor blood but is foamy, this is known as Giardia, and illness brought on by a different type of microscopic parasite. However, it is cured in the same way. When you have a fever and bloody diarrhea, the infection is not caused by amoebas, but by bacteria and it is called Shigella. Causes:Direct contact and transmission of the microorganisms through contaminated water and food.Suggestion:Take strong doses of garlic for 10 to 15 days, or more if necessary. Now days very effective drugs are available in the market for AMOEBAS, therefore consult your physician if the above symptoms exists. If you suffer from Shigella or other bacterial infections, the same treatment is recommended.

Slime molds are simple, nongreen (saprophytic) plants that can live as individual single cells or can swarm together to function as a multicellular entity. In humans, they can live in the skin, inside the digestive tract, inside organs and inside malignant tumors. They cause human cell mutations.