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what is the cell structure of a protist

by Prof. Joseph Wehner Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Protist cells may contain a single nucleus or many nuclei; they range in size from microscopic to thousands of meters in area. Protists may have animal-like cell membranes, plant-like cell walls, or may be covered by a pellicle.Jan 3, 2021

Full Answer

What type of cells is protists made of?

The biological kingdom Protista includes a group of unique life forms composed of eukaryotic cells which can be unicellular as well as multicellular.

Do protists have a cell wall or cell membrane?

Some protists, which are eukaryotic organisms that aren't plants, animals, or fungi, have a cell wall (a covering that surrounds the plasma membrane of a cell and provides protection and support), and some don't. Protists that resemble plants and fungi have a variety of cell walls.

What is the cell type of Protista?

The protist cell is a eukaryotic cell. Eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus and membrane-covered cell organelles (parts within the cell) like chloroplast, Golgi body, mitochondria, etc. Some common examples of protists are Euglena, Paramecium, and Amoeba. Protists may be colorless or colored and their body shape varies.

Do all protist cells have a nucleus?

Protists have a nucleus because they are eukaryotic organisms. Usually, protist cells contain a single nucleus (they are mononucleate). However, many protists are multinucleated, meaning they contain many nuclei. As in other eukaryotic cells, the protist nucleus houses the cell’s DNA, which controls all the functions of the cell.. Protist cells contain a nucleus

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Do protists have structures?

Some protists have hard shells covering them. Many protists move by means of cilia, which are tiny hair-like structures beat in unison to create movement, or flagella, which are long hair-like structures coming from the end of the protist that provide locomotion.

What is a protist cell?

A protist (/ˈproʊtɪst/) is any eukaryotic organism (that is, an organism whose cells contain a cell nucleus) that is not an animal, plant, or fungus.

How do you identify a protist cell?

Protists are eukaryotes, which means their cells have a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles....A few characteristics are common between protists.They are eukaryotic, which means they have a nucleus.Most have mitochondria.They can be parasites.They all prefer aquatic or moist environments.

What kind of cells do protists have?

Protists are eukaryotes as they possess a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles (structures that perform a specific job). At one time, simple organisms such as amoebas and single-celled algae were classified together in a single taxonomic category: the kingdom Protista.

What is Protista cell wall made of?

Some protists have cell walls that are made of cellulose, but others have cell walls made of sugars other than glucose, modified sugars, or proteins.

What are the main characteristics of protists?

Protists have nuclear membranes around their DNA. They also have other membrane-bound organelles. Many protists live in aquatic habitats, and most are motile, or able to move. Protists have complex life cycles that may include both sexual and asexual reproduction.

What's the shape of a protist?

Protists have different body shapes. For example Euglena is spindle shaped, Amoeba has an irregular shape, and Paramecium is slipper shaped. Protists commonly move with the help of pseudopodia, flagella, or cilia. Nutrition may be photosynthetic, or heterotrophic (Holozoic, saprophytic, or parasitic).

Which are characteristics of all protists?

All protists are eukaryotic organisms. This means that they have a membrane-enclosed nucleus and other cell organelles. Most protists are aquatic, others are found in moist and damp environments. Most are unicellular, however, there are a few multicellular protists such as the giant kelp.

What is a protist example?

MarimoGiant kelpForamsRhizariaSea lettuceEuglena viridisProtist/Representative species

What is a protist GCSE biology?

Protists are a group of microorganisms that have features that belong to animals, plants and fungi . Some are like animals, others more like plants and some, called moulds are closest to fungi. They are all eukaryotic , which means they have a nucleus .

What are characteristics of protists?

Protists have nuclear membranes around their DNA. They also have other membrane-bound organelles. Many protists live in aquatic habitats, and most are motile, or able to move. Protists have complex life cycles that may include both sexual and asexual reproduction.

What is Protista in biology?

The term 'Protista' is derived from the Greek word “protistos”, meaning “the very first“. These organisms are usually unicellular and the cell of these organisms contains a nucleus which is bound to the organelles. Some of them even possess structures that aid locomotion like flagella or cilia.

What is an example of a protist cell?

All protists are eukaryotes with a true nucleus. Examples of protists are Amoeba, Paramecium, Euglena, Plasmodium, slime mold, algae, Trypanosoma.

What are the 3 structures that protists use to move?

Protists might use any of the following structures to move. Pseudopodia (false feet): protoplasmic outgrowths found in slime molds and Amoeba. Fl...

What is the cell type of protists?

A protist cell is a eukaryotic cell. Eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus and membrane covered organelles like vacuoles, mitochondria, endoplasmic...

What organelles are in a protist cell?

A protist cell is a eukaryote cell. The organelles present in protists are the nucleus, mitochondria, vacuole, Golgi body, chloroplast, and endopla...

What are Protists?

The term protist meaning "the very first" was coined by a German zoologist named Ernst Haeckel. Protists are a diverse group of organisms that are mostly aquatic and unicellular (made of a single cell).

Classification of Protists

Although protists are eukaryotes just like fungi, plants, and animals, they still have certain characteristics that differentiate them and they are a very diverse group.

Why do protists have nuclei?

Because protists are eukaryotes, each protist cell contains a nucleus. This nucleus protects the protist's DNA, which is the blueprint or code that runs every function of the protist cell. Protist cells, like other eukaryotic cells, have organelles, or tiny organs that each serve a different function within the cell.

Which organelle is responsible for synthesizing all the proteins the protist needs?

Ribosomes are the organelles responsible for synthesizing all the proteins the protist will need, while the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus help to fold and sort these proteins. Protists also have mitochondria, which are the organelles responsible for turning food into energy the cell can use.

How do protists move?

As we head past the cell membrane, leaving the inside of the protist cell, things start to get even more diverse! Unlike humans, protists don't have feet or legs to help them move around, but protists have a variety of other ways to move from place to place. Some protists, for example, have a flagellum. Anchored into the cell membrane, flagella are whip-like structures that allow organisms to move through fluids. Protists aren't the only organisms with flagella. Human sperm cells use flagella too! This is how they swim up a female's reproductive tract to reach an egg.

What are alveolates and dinoflagellates? What are their functions?

The exact function of alveoli is unknown, but they may help with protection and regulation. Dinoflagellates are a group of alveolates that have two very interesting characteristics. They are capable of glowing in the dark, a phenomenon known as bioluminescence. When their populations experience sudden growth, dinoflagellates can also be responsible for what we refer to as red tide, or the reddish/brownish water you might see at coastlines from time to time. Dinoflagellates are often spherically shaped, usually single-celled, and, as their name might suggest, also have flagella.

How can you tell if a protist is different from a human?

Think about all of the humans you've ever met. Although they are all similar, you can likely tell them all apart. They probably each have different faces, different personalities, and even different voices. Humans are surely diverse, but, protists are even more diverse than humans!

What organisms have flagella?

Protists aren't the only organisms with flagella. Human sperm cells use flagella too! This is how they swim up a female's reproductive tract to reach an egg. One group of protists , called Trypanosoma, look like tiny squiggles, each with a flagellum at the end.

How to see protists in a pond?

Head outside and collect a sample of pond water. Bring it back to a biology lab, and you'd be surprised at what you could see under a microscope . Just a tiny sample of pond water can reveal numerous different protists right before your very eyes.

Where are protists found?

Protists are mostly aquatic organisms, therefore, they are found in the sea, fresh water and moist soil. Many protists are found in water bodies in the form of plankton. Some protists live in the bodies of animals as parasites.

What are the structures of a nucleus?

They have typical 9+2 fibrils. Nucleus has typical structure—porous nuclear envelope, chromatin, nucleolus and nucleoplasm. Many forms have more than one similar or dissimilar nuclei. Centrioles occur in a number of types. Photosynthetic forms contain chloroplasts with internal thylakoids.

What are protists?

Protists are one-celled or multi-cellular eukaryotes that have a nucleus, ribosomes, endoplamic reticulum, golgi apparatus, and mitochondria within their cell membranes. Photosynthetic protists also have chloroplasts. Some have eyespots to detect light, and many have flagella as a means of locomotion.

Which organisms have the same cellular architecture?

The cellular architecture of fungi, animals, plants , and ‘protists’, which are all eukaryotes, all share the same architecture. All of them exhibit the following traits:

What are the cells that can't produce their own food called?

Animal cells have a flexible plasma membrane without a cell wall, are heterothrophic (which means they can’t produce their own food), and contain centrioles, true lysosomes, and tight junctions, which are unique to animals.

What are plant cells made of?

Plant cells have a cell wall made from cellulose, have a single vacuole that may serve many functions, and may contain different kinds of plastids (the most famous are, of course, the chloroplasts, which give plants their green color and produces their own food).

What is the function of the cell membrane?

You see, the cell membrane is selectively permeable—meaning that it allows certain molecules to move between surfaces. Embedded within the cell membranes are the integral proteins (channel proteins on the picture) that have a plethora of functions! One of them is to transport molecules from/to outside the cell (ECF) to/from inside the cell (ICF).

What does the sphere represent in a phosphate?

In this sketch, the spheres represent the phosphate end, which is polar and water soluble (hydrophilic). The twin extensions represent the fatty acid components which are not water soluble (hydrophobic).

Why do plants have rigid cell walls?

Plant cells are encased in a rigid cell wall made of cellulose, which shields them better against external influences and plays a major role in the structural integrity of the plant as a whole. This also means that the cell and cell membranes are confined to the cell wall, therefore the cells cannot change shape that much. This is the exact same reason why higher fungi have lost the ability to phagocytize, because of the presence of cell walls.

What are protist cells?

The cells of protists are among the most elaborate of all cells. Most protists are microscopic and unicellular, but some true multicellular forms exist. A few protists live as colonies that behave in some ways as a group of free-living cells and in other ways as a multicellular organism. Still other protists are composed of enormous, multinucleate, single cells that look like amorphous blobs of slime, or in other cases, like ferns. In fact, many protist cells are multinucleated; in some species, the nuclei are different sizes and have distinct roles in protist cell function.

How many species of protists are there?

There are over 100,000 described living species of protists, and it is unclear how many undescribed species may exist. Since many protists live as commensals or parasites in other organisms and these relationships are often species-specific, there is a huge potential for protist diversity that matches the diversity of hosts. As the catchall term for eukaryotic organisms that are not animal, plant, or fungi, it is not surprising that very few characteristics are common to all protists.

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1.What is the Cell Structure of Protists? - Study.com

Url:https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-the-cell-structure-of-protists.html

29 hours ago  · The protist cell is a eukaryotic cell. Eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus and membrane-covered cell organelles (parts within the cell) like chloroplast, Golgi body, mitochondria, etc. Some common...

2.Protist Cell Type & Structure | What is a Protist Cell?

Url:https://study.com/learn/lesson/protist-cell-type-structure.html

31 hours ago  · What Is The Cell Structure Of Protists? Protists are a diverse collection of organisms. While exceptions exist they are primarily microscopic and unicellular or made up of a single cell. The cells of protists are highly organized with a nucleus and specialized cellular machinery called organelles. Mar 30 2016

3.Protist Cell Structure - Video & Lesson Transcript

Url:https://study.com/academy/lesson/protist-cell-structure.html

2 hours ago Structure of Protists: Protists are microscopic organisms. Cell structure is eukaryotic. Protists is surrounded by plasma lemma (cell membrane). There may be an outer covering of pellicle, cuticle, shell or cellulose wall. It contains organelles like mitochondria, Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticu­lum, 80S ribosomes, etc.

4.Protists: Occurrence and Structure (With Diagram)

Url:https://www.biologydiscussion.com/protists/protists-occurrence-and-structure-with-diagram/52095

29 hours ago  · Protist cells may contain a single nucleus or many nuclei they range in size from microscopic to thousands of meters in area. Protists may have animal-like cell membranes plant-like cell walls or may be covered by a pellicle. Which structure can be found in both protists? Like all other eukaryotes protists have a nucleus containing their DNA.

5.What is the cell structure of a typical protist? - Quora

Url:https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-cell-structure-of-a-typical-protist

21 hours ago Protists are eukaryotic organisms which are not plants, animals or fungus. So, they generally have the same cell structure as any other eukaryotic organism. This includes the nucleus, mitochondria, golgi body and apparatus, ERs, ribosomes and vacuoles . They may also have a flagella or pseudo podium for movement assistance and cytoplasm.

6.Cell Structure | Protists

Url:https://nigerianscholars.com/tutorials/protists/cell-structure-2/

12 hours ago Cell Structure The cells of protists are among the most elaborate of all cells. Most protists are microscopic and unicellular, but some true multicellular forms exist. A few protists live as colonies that behave in some ways as a group of free-living cells and in other ways as a multicellular organism.

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