Protozoa

Question	Answer
9+2 organization	Organization of microtubules in a flagellum. 9 pairs of microtubules with 2 in the middle
Actin	A contractile protein that forms microfilaments and is part of the cytoskeleton. Seen in the cytoplasm of amoebozoa and is polymerized in the ectoplasm. but found in monomers in the endoplasm.
Alveolate	Assemblage of unicellular eukaryotic organisms that have common ancestry. comprised of ciliates. apicomplexans. and dinoflagellates. All contain alveoli. which are flattened vesicles supporting the plasma membrane and forming a flexible pellicle. Together with the stramenopiles. comprise chromalveolates.
Amoebozoa	Protozoa phylum that moves using pseudopodia and feed by phagocytosis. Most are free living in shallow water.
Apicomplexa	Protozoa phylum that contains parasitic protists. Members have various animal hosts and complex life cycles involving multiple fission. sexual reproduction and the production of spores. Now classified as alveolates.
Archaeplastida	An assemblage of eukaryotic organisms that contain land plants. single cell and colonial green algae and red algae. Have plastids.
Asexual Reproduction	Reproduction in which new individuals are produced from a single parent without the formation of gametes. Can use either fission. fragmentation. budding. Forms clones.
Basal Body	Structure located in the cytoplasm that is essential for the formation of cilia and flagella. from which they project. Composed of 9 sets of microtubules arranged in triplets. and embedded in a dense granular matrix.
Bikont	Eukaryotic organisms that have 2 flagella. and thought to be the ancestor of all plants. as it was able to swim up and undergo an endosymbiotic event with photosynthetic bacteria. which formed the chloroplast.
Binary Fission	Division of 1 cell into 2 similar cells. Method of asexual reproduction.
Centriole	2 short cylinders at right angels and composed of microtubules. Replicates during nondividing phase of the cell cycle. and is involved in mitosis. Essential for the assembly of undulipodia.
Centrosome	Specialized region of all eukaryotic cells except fungi. Situated next to the nucleus and organizes microtubules during cell division. Chief microtubule-organizing centre in animal cells.
Choanocyte	Flagellated cell surrounded by a collar-like sheath of protoplasm that forms a layer lining the internal chamber.
Chromoalveolata	One of the 6 major eukaryotic supergroups. Contains organisms descendant from endosymbiosis of algea and bikont.
Cilia	Small. hair-like filaments on cell walls whose wafting motion is used for propulsion or moving matter along a surface. Cilia are also found on single-celled protozoa.
Ciliophora	Phylum containing ciliated protozoa that possess two types of nuclei. a micronucleus and macronucleus. Cilia are used for feeding and locomotion. Reproduce sexually by conjugation. Included in alveolates.
Cirrus	In certain ciliate protozoa. an organelle formed by the fusion of a group of cilia. which usually functions in locomotion.
Colonial Choanoflagellate	Cells that are very similar to choanocytes. including a collar-like sheath. Form colonies and are thought to be the ancestors of animals.
Conjugation	A form of sexual reproduction in ciliate protozoans. Two individuals are united by a tube formed by outgrowths from one or both of the cells. Genetic material from one cell (male) then passes through the tube to unite with that in the other cell.
Contractile vacuoles	Organelle which functions in the removal of excess water from the cells of protozoa. Expands as it fills with water from the cytoplasm. and contracts as it empties this water to the exterior.
Cytopharynx	Short passage like region in some protozoans through which food passes through after being ingested at the cytostome
Cytoplasmic streaming	The continuous. often rapid. movement of cytoplasm within a cell. If is a process requiring expenditure of energy by the cell and is thought to inlvolve microfilament and microtubular activity.
Cytoproct	A well developed feeding groove that takes food in at a specific point.
Cytostome	The fixed site in some protozoan cells at which food is ingested.
Dyenin arm	The connection between two pairs of microtubules created when a dyenin motor protein grabs on to one of the microtubules and walks on the other.
Dyenin motor	A molecular motor that walks on microtubules and goes towards the centriole.
Ectoplasm	The outer gel like layer of the cell's cytoplasm immediately beneath the cell membrane and contains polymerized actin needed for cell movement in amoebozoa.
Endomembrane system	Network of membranous compartments that forms part of many of the cells internal organelles and other functional components. It includes the membranes of the nucleus. endoplasmic reticulum. Golgi apparatus etc.
Endoplasm	The inner layer of cytoplasm within which are embedded the principle cell organelles. In amoebozoa. also contains actin monomers.
Endosymbiont theory	The theory that states that certain organelles in the eukaryotic cell were once free living prokaryotic organisms that were ingested by eukaryotic organisms. but not digested. and kept on living in a symbiotic manner. This theory hypothesizes on the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts.
Euglenozoa	Phylum of protozoa. Nearly all members are flagellates. Discoid mitochondrial cristae. and paramylon as the carbohydrate storage product (startch)
Excavata	Eukaryotic protists characterized by one or more feeding grooves equipped with flagella that propel food into the mouth
Eye spot	Area of light sensitive pigment on some algae
Flagella	A thread-like organelle which usually functions in locomotion.
Food vacuole	A small vesicle that is formed inside a protozoan cell and within which food particles ingested by the cell are contained and subsequently digested.
Gametocyte	A cell that will undergo meiosis to form gametes
Gametogony	a stage in the sporozoa lifecycle in which gametes are formed.
Helicoid flagellar beat	Flagellar movement in a spiral
Hyaline cap	Clear space at the leading edge of the pseudopodium. Where endoplasm becomes ectoplasm
Kindetodesmata	Longitudinally oriented cytoplasmic fibrils associated with and always on the right of the kinetosomes of ciliates.
Kinesin Motor	Molecular motor protein that walks away from the centriole.
Lobose pseudopod	Group of amoebozoa. Blunt and there may be one or several on a cell.
Lysosome	Organelles containing a large range of digestive enzymes used primarily for digestion and removal of excess or worn-out organelles. food particles and engulfed viruses or bacteria
Macronucleus	One of two types of dimorphic nuclei found in ciliate protozoans. Contains multiple copies of the genome and is responsible for general protozoan cell function.
Membranelle	Any structures found arount the mouth or sytostome in ciliate protists. Cilia which emerge from this structure are too fused. and can function as a single membrane which can be used to sweep particles of food into the cytostome. or can be used for locomotion
Merozoites	Stage in the life cycle of the malaria parasite (plasmodium). Formed during the asexual division of the schizont. Swim around to find RBCs.
Metachronal wave	Synchronized beat along the longitudinal ciliary rows.
Micronucleus	One of two dimorphic nuclei found in ciliate protozoans. Only contains one copy of the genome and is used during the reproductive cell division.
Microtubules	Hollow cylindrical protein polymers made of tubulin. Involved in intracellular shape and transport.
Microvilli	Minute hairlike structures projecting from the exposed surface of the cell in order to increase the surface area for absorption. secretion. cellular adhesion or mechanotransduction.
Multiple fission	Division of the nucleus. simultaneously or successively into a number of daughter nuclei. followed by division of the cell body into an equal number of parts. each containing a nucleus.
Myonemes	Strands of contractile myofibers found in single cells. These allow the cell to contract in length and change its shape
Myosin motor	Molecular motor that walks on actin
Nuclear envelope	The double-layered membrane that envelopes the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell. separating the contents of the nucleus from the cytoplasm
Oocyst	Encysted zygotic stage in the life cycle of some sporozoans
Opisthokont	Broad group of eukaryotes including both the animal and fungus kindgom ancestors.
Pellicle	Network of semi-rigid cell membrane thickenings found on the surface of some protozoans. These are used to anchor either the locomotory flagella or cilia into the surrounding plasma membrane
Phagocytosis	Cellular ingestion of suspended nutrients
Phagosome	Vesicle formed around a particle that has recently been phagocytosed
Pinocytosis	Cellular ingestion of dissolved nutrients
Planar flagellar beat	Flagellum beats in one plane so it needs more than one to move in different directions
Protista	Kingdom containing protists
Protozoa	Single celled organisms in Protista that exhibit the animal-like characteristics of having to feed to obtain nutrients (heterotrophic).
Pseudopod	Cytoplasmic extension that extends from the surface of either a protozoan or any amoeboid cell. These structures are temporary and are used for locomotion and feeding.
Radiozoa	Protista phylum that produces intricate mineral skeletons. Usually have central capsule dividing the cell into the inner and outer portions of endoplasm and ectoplasm
Rhizaria	Supergroup of protists. mostly unicellular eukaryotes that for the most part are amoeboids with filose. reticulose. or microtubule-supported pseudopods.
Schizogony	Form of asexual reproduction found in some protozoans. Multinucleated cell undergoes cell division that results in each daughter cell containing only one of the many nuclei present in the parent cell (multiple fission)
Sexual reproduction	Mode of reproduction involving the fusion of the female and male gametes. which forms a zygote that potentially develops into genetically distinct offspring.
Sliding microtubule hypothesis	Microtubules in cilia and flagella are arranged in 9+2. Dyenin motors stretch from each pair of microtubules to the other and walk down one of the microtubule pairs. This slides the microtubules over each other and bends the flagellum or cilia.
Sporogony	Form of asexual reproduction where the fusion product of the male and female gamete undergoes multiple cell divisions that produce sporozites. Found in apicomplexa.
Sporozoites	Any of the minute undeveloped sporozoans produced by multiple fission of a zygote or spore.
Tests	Another word for rhizarian shells.
Trichocysts	Flask-shaped structure in the pellicles of some protists used to defend and anchor the organism.
Trophozoites	Feeding stage of plasmodium. Inside the RBCs.
Tubulin	Protien that makes up microtubules.
Undulipod	Generic name for cilia and flagella
Unikont	Eukaryotic cell with a single flagellum. Ancestor of all animals.
Water expulsion vesicle	Special organelle found in protozoan and some parozoans that is involved in osmoregulation. Collects water from the cytoplasm and then releases it from the cell. Also called a contractile vacuole.

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	Created by Shareef Akbari about 7 years ago