Research Links

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Research Links

Chapter 27 described the unique characteristics of protists, the simplest of the eukaryotes. The following sites will aid in your understanding of these organisms by introducing you to current research in protist evolution as well as how several organizations are trying to fight protist-based diseases such as malaria and toxoplasmosis.

27.1 What Are the Protists?
Protists
Visit the protist image gallery to see light and electron micrographs of these wild single-celled creatures. Many of the images link to textual information on the organism as well, such as the choanflagellata.
Keywords: protists, images, eukaryotes

Protist Kingdom
This site describes the protists using image sets and textual information. Follow the links to explore the different phyla in the protist kindgom.
Keywords: protist kingdom, phylogeny

Protists
This huge site provides a wealth of information on the different phyla of protists. Follow the links to learn about the taxonomy of the kingdom, the biology of the individual groups, and the ecology and relationships of different protists to life in the other kingdoms.
Keywords: symbiosis, protists, eukaryotes

27.2 Themes in the Evolution of Protists

The Evolution of Protists
The site provides a great overview of the evolutionary relationships of protists and how they fit into the grand scheme of life. Follow the links to read about taxonomic and phylogenetic research on the internal and external relationships of the protist kingdom.
Keywords: protist evolution, phylogeny, taxonomy

History of the Evolution of Eukaryotes
This site discusses the history of research on the evolution of eukaryotes. Follow the links to learn about studies done on the taxonomy and phylogeny of microorganisms and the molecular evolution of eukaryotic proteins and genetic material, and learn about the different researchers who contributed to this scientific story.
Keywords: protist evolution, research, history

27.3 The Origin of Mitochondria and Chloroplasts

Endosymbiosis
This site explores the role the protists may have played in the evolution of mitochondria and chloroplasts. Studies on the evolution of these cellular organelles lay the foundation for understanding the molecular and ecological processes that led to the appearance of eukaryotes.
Keywords: mitochondria, chloroplasts, organelle evolution

Lynn Margulis
Lynn Margulis is largely credited with developing our current model for the symbiotic evolution of mitochondria in eukaryotic cells. This site provides links to a wealth of resources on Margulis' research in organelle and molecular evolution and ecology.
Keywords: Lynn Margulis, history, organelle evolution

27.4 How Do Protists Affect Human Health and Welfare?

Malaria Foundation International
This site describes the disease malaria, a blood-borne protozoan pathogen of many animals, including humans. Follow the links to learn about the parasite's biology, the medicine of the disease, and how malaria fits in to the overall concerns on global health.
Keywords: malaria, global health, research

Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is another disease caused by a protist, often clinically present in patients infected with the HIV virus. This site describes the disease and its relationship to AIDS and HIV, and it discusses its global health implications.
Keywords: toxoplasmosis, global health, research

Harmful Algae and Red Tides
This site describes red tides and other harmful algal blooms. Red Tide is the name given to the blooming of dinoflagellate phytoplankton in the world's oceans. These single-celled protists produce toxins that harm marine life, and they can work their way through the food chain to humans via shellfish and other marine foods.
Keywords: red tide, algal bloom, protists, human health

Chapter 27: Protists

Research Links