Protists and Fungi Overview

Overview

This lecture explores protists and fungi, covering their characteristics, ecological roles, reproduction, and impacts on humans and ecosystems.

Protists are mostly microscopic, unicellular eukaryotes, but some are multicellular.
Eukaryotes have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, unlike prokaryotes.
Protists move using flagella, cilia, or pseudopods (as in amoebas).
Some protists are animal-like (no cell walls); others are plant- or fungus-like (with cell walls).
Protists are a diverse group for organisms not fitting as plants, animals, or fungi.

Protists are found in freshwater, saltwater, soil, and inside other organisms.
Protists can be autotrophs (make their own food, often via photosynthesis) or heterotrophs (consume other organisms).
Examples: Diatoms and euglena (autotrophs); amoebas, paramecia, and slime molds (heterotrophs).

Protist reproduction is diverse: some reproduce asexually by binary fission, others sexually with complex life cycles.
Protists are essential producers in aquatic environments, producing oxygen and supporting food chains.
Some protists are decomposers, while others have important symbiotic relationships (e.g., coral, insect guts).
Pathogenic protists can cause diseases like malaria, which is spread by mosquitos but caused by a protist.
Rare but deadly amoeba species can infect humans; a protist also caused the Irish Potato Famine.

Fungi are eukaryotes with cell walls made of chitin.
Fungi are found in many environments: soil, aquatic habitats, houses, and on or in organisms.
Fungi are more closely related to animals than plants, and do not perform photosynthesis.
Most fungi are multicellular, but some are unicellular.

Fungi are heterotrophs that digest organic matter.
Fungi reproduce sexually and asexually, often by spreading spores.
Fungi can cause infections (e.g., yeast infections, athlete’s foot) and damage crops.
Fungi are important decomposers and food sources, and are used in making bread, cheese, and as mushrooms.
Fungi form mutualistic relationships (e.g., mycorrhizae with plant roots, lichens with algae).
Many antibiotics (e.g., penicillin) are derived from fungi.

Research explores phytoplankton as biofuel, fungi as biocontrol agents, and yeast in biotechnology.

Protist — Mostly unicellular eukaryotic organisms not classified as animal, plant, or fungus.
Eukaryote — Organism with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Autotroph — Organism that makes its own food, often by photosynthesis.
Heterotroph — Organism that consumes other organisms for nourishment.
Binary Fission — Asexual reproduction by simple cellular splitting.
Chitin — Structural carbohydrate found in fungal cell walls and insect exoskeletons.
Spore — Microscopic reproductive cell used by fungi (and some protists).

Review additional readings and resources in the video details for more information on protists and fungi.
Explore suggested channels for real-life amoeba footage.