Mystery Protist A . Direct sequence data show significant sequence homology to Cyclotella, whose shells are often harvested to be used in industrial filtering.
. Morphological analysis: It is covered by a glassy shell and contains photosynthetic pigments. Reproductive cells have two flagella.
. Field observations: It was isolated from a marine water sample and has been observed gliding via microtubules that extend from its shell.
What is the protists?
Mystery Protist B
. Direct sequence data show significant homology with Giardia intestinalis, the parasite that can cause severe intestinal distress in humans.
· Morphological analysis: It is flagellated and has two nuclei and no cell wall.
· Field observations: It has been observed to reproduce asexually. It was isolated from the feces of cats.
What is the protist?
Mystery Protist C
· Direct sequence data show significant homology with dinoflagellates and apicomplexans.
· Morphological analysis: It has a swimming cell covered with cilia. It has two nuclei—a smaller one and a larger one.
· Field observations: It was isolated from a sample of goat feces and has been observed
reproducing sexually via conjugation, trading its smaller nuclei.
What is the protist?
Mystery Protist D
· Direct sequence data show high homology with Dictyostelium discoideum.
· Morphological analysis: It forms a gigantic, web-shaped cell with many nuclei, and it moves with amoeboid motion.
· Field observations: It was isolated from a forest soil sample.
What is the protist?
Mystery protist E
· Direct sequence data show significant homology to Porphyra, which is harvested for sushi in eastern Asia.
· Morphological analysis: It is red, has photosynthetic pigments, and has no flagella.
. Field observations: It was isolated from an ocean-water sample near a coral reef.
What is the protist?
Mystery Protist F
· Direct sequence data show significant homology to Pyrgo anomala, which contributes to chalk- and limestone-forming sediments.
· Morphological analysis: It has multiple nuclei. It has no cell wall but does have a shell made of calcium carbonate through which pseudopodia extend.
· Field observations: It was isolated from a marine-water sample, in which numerous individuals were found drifting passively in the water, feeding by extending pseudopodia out through openings in their shells. Numerous shells were collected from the ocean floor as well.
What is the protist?
Mystery Protist G
· Direct sequence data show significant homology with diplomonads and parabasalids.
· Morphological analysis: It does not have a cell wall but does have a network of protein molecules just under the plasma membrane that stiffen the cell. It is photosynthetic but produces an unusual carbohydrate unlike starch.
· Field observations: It was isolated from a freshwater sample. It is easy to observe under a light microscope because it actively swims toward light.
What is the protist?