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