Protista: Notes, Classification & NEET Important MCQs

Introduction

• The term ‘Protista’ was given by German biologist Ernst Haeckel.
• Kingdom Protista consists of  unicellular and eukaryotic organisms. Protists have all cell organs like multicellular eukaryotes but the body of protistan is less complex than multicellular eukaryotes.
• This kingdom was constituted by Whittaker by including those  organisms that  do not fit into any of the other kingdoms.  
• They also are link between plant and animal.

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Table of content

• Introduction to Kingdom Protista  
• ​Morphology & Structure 
• ​Nutrition in Protista
• ​Reproduction Methods 
• ​Classification of Protista :
  • Chrysophytes : Diatoms & Desmids
  • ​Dinoflagellates 
  • Euglenoids
  • Slime moulds 
  • Protozoan
• ​Types of Protozoan
• ​Practice MCQs for NEET 

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Extra Shot of Protista

Some protists are photosynthetic,  some make symbiotic relationships, some are solitary and form colonies; some are microscopic, some have bioluminescence properties and some are pathogens in plants and animals

General Character of Kingdom Protista

👉Protista are unicellular eukaryotic organisms and found in  mostly aquatic habitats.

👉The cell wall is sometimes  present or sometimes  absent.

👉Protists have well-defined nucleus and membrane-bound cell organelles.

👉They have autotrophic nutrition  or  heterotrophic nutrition.

👉The organisms show locomotion with the help of cilia, flagella or pseudopodia.

👉They reproduce asexually and sexually by cell fusion and zygote formation. 

Example of Kingdom Protista

Dinoflagellates- 

• Dinoflagellates are  photosynthetic, motile, and live in  marine environments. 
• They are bi flagellates having two flagella one longitudinally and one is located transversely .
• Both flagella are located between the furrow of wall plates.
• They contain green, yellow, brown, red or blue pigments. They make enormous groups of phytoplankton.
• They release  toxins, and due to these  toxins . Their toxins also  kill marine organisms.                
• The  red tide in sea  is caused by the colouration of the dinoflagellates like Gonyaulax. This phenomenon of red tide is seen during the rapid multiplication of the organism.

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• Reproduction  take place  by both asexual and sexual methods.
• Cell wall of Dinoflagellates has cellulosic plate on outer surface.

Extra Shot of Dinoflagellates

They have condensed chromosomes, their nucleus called mesokaryon. Some dinoflagellates emit light  in the dark. This is a phenomenon of bioluminescence.

Chrysophytes or  jewels of the plant world.

• Diatoms and Desmids are members of chrysophyta. Out of two, Desmids are called Golden algae.
• These are unicellular, photosynthetic, free-floating fresh or marine water forms.
• The cell wall is made up of silica and pectin.
• Reproduction is by both sexual and asexual methods.
• Diatoms  accumulate  large amounts of cell wall deposit where they present. This deposition of Diatoms is called diatomaceous earth. Formation of this earth takes millions of years.

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• They are plankton because they float passively in water current.
• In Diatoms, The two layers of  the cell wall are fitted together and form a soapbox. Example: Diatoms, Desmids etc. 

Euglenoids

• These are unicellular, mixotrophic and have features    of both plants and animals.
• They  are green, autotrophic in nutrition and have chlorophyll similar to green plants.
• They are also regarded as a connecting link between plants and animals.
• They have two flagella, one is long and other is short.
• They are found mostly in stagnant freshwater.
• Their body is covered by  a protein-rich layer called pellicle, which makes their body flexible.

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• The food is stored in the form of proteinaceous granules known as pyrenoids in their chlorophyll.

• Reproduction is only by the asexual method.

• Photosynthetic euglenoids behave like heterotrophs in the dark, this mode of nutrition is known as mixotrophic. Example: Euglena

Slime Moulds ( Fungus animals)

• They possess the characteristics of both animals and fungi.
• They are found   in moist places and may be found  moving along the decaying twigs and leaves hence they are saprotrophic.
• They reproduce by both sexual and asexual methods.
• Under favourable conditions, they aggregate and  form a stage called Plasmodium up to several feet.

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• During the offset of favourable conditions ,Plasmodium is broken and forms fruiting bodies. Spores inside the fruiting bodies are liberated through the air. These spores have thick wall. Due to wall they may remain alive up to several years.
• Protozoans: These are the most primitive animals and  are heterotrophic in nature and live as predator or parasites. On the basis of locomotory organs, They are divided into four major groups.
• Amoeboid Protozoans T are found  in freshwater  and saltwater or moist soil.
• They move with the help of pseudopodia. They capture and engulf the food also by the pseudopodia.

• Some marine form of amoeboid protozoan have shell of silica. Amoeba, Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba gingivalis (parasites) etc are examples of amoeboid protozoans.
• Sporozoans have  less developed or no locomotory organs and members are parasites. Example: Plasmodium, Monocystis, etc.

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• Flagellated Protozoans are either free-living or parasitic in nature.They have flagella as a locomotory organ. Ex- Trypanosoma causes African sleeping sickness

Group	Key Feature	Locomotion	Example
Chrysophytes	Golden Algae / Diatoms	Passive (Water                                 current)	Desmids
Dinoflagellates	Two flagella (Spinning)	Flagellar	Gonyaulax
Euglenoids	Pellicle (Protein layer)	Flagellar	Euglena
Slime Moulds	Saprophytic /       Plasmodium	Amoeboid	Physarum
Protozoans	Heterotrophs	Cilia/Flagella/Pseudopodia	Amoeba, Paramecium

Extra Shot of Flagellated Protozoans

• Leishmania is caused by kala-azar or dum-dum fever. Giardia causes giardiasis. Trichomonas vaginalis causes leucorrhoea.
• Ciliated Protozoans are aquatic, and locomotion is done by the presence of cilia.
• They exhibit  nuclear dimorphism or they have two nuclei - macro and micronucleus.
• They also have a cavity called gullet in which food and water are laden due to beating of cilia. Gullet is opened outside the cell surface. E.g., Paramecium, etc.

1. How many statement is / are correct with respect to protista.

1. All single cell Eukaryotes are included in Protista.

2. Some of protistan are flagellated or ciliated. 

3. Protistan are regarded as connecting link between plant , animal and fungi.

4. They reproduce asexually and sexually by cell fusion and zygote formation.

A. One           B. Two

C. Three        D . Four

Answer: D 

2. Which of the following statement is correct. 

A. Protistan are single cell eukaryotes and do not have well defined nucleus and other cell organs.

B. Boundaries of classification of protistan is limited. 

C. They are totally saprophytic and no any member is autotrophs .

D. Members of Protista are primarily aquatic.

Answer: D  

3. Desmids and Diatoms are belong to which group of protista .

A. Dinoflagellates 

B. Euglenoids 

C. Slime mould

D. Chrysophytes 

Answer : D  

4. Term Plankton has been used for the chrysophytes because :

A. They can float passively in water current.

B. They are found in both fresh and marine water.

C. They are microscopic and photosynthetic.

D. Their cell wall is made up of silica.

Answer: A  

5. Golden algae are -

A. Gonyaulax 

B. Desmids

C. Euglena

D. Leishmania

Answer:B  

6. In which of following chrysophytes, cell wall are present in two thin overlapping shell which are fitted like a Soap box.

A. Desmids  

B. Golden algae

C . Diatoms

D. Plankton

Answer : C  

7. Diatoms  accumulate  large amounts of cell wall deposit where they present . Which of the following statement is not correct about these deposition.

A. This deposition is called diatomaceous earth formed in billions of years.

B. Their wall is made up of calcium carbonate and indestructible.

C. These deposition are gritty in nature and used in polishing and filtration of oil and syrup.

D. This deposition is often referred to Diatomaceous earth.

Answer : B

8. Which of the following word is not related to Diatoms.

A. Golden algae

B. Photosynthetic

C. Microscopic

D. Chief producer in ocean

Answer : A

7. Consider the following statement and select the correct code;

1. Dinoflagellates are mostly marine and photosynthetic.

2. These are various in color dur to pigments present in their cell.

A. Only 1 B . Only 2

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2.

Answer: C

8. Dinoflagellates have two flagella :

A. One is located at longitudinally and another in transversely.

B. Both are located at longitudinally.

C. Both are located at transversely.

D. One is longitudinally and another is vertically.

Answer: A

9. Cell wall of Dinoflagellates has cellulosic plate on

A. Inner surface

B. Outer surface

C.Both outer and inner surface.

D. On entire cell wall .

Answer: B

9. Which on of the following structure of Dinoflagellates are located between the furrow of wall plate.

A. Colouration pigment

B. Flagella

C. Toxin releasing part

D. Photosynthetic pigment.

Answer: B

10. Gonyaulax  is :

A. Golden algae float passively in water current. 

B. Chief producer of ocean.

C. Red Dinoflagellates which multiply rapidly and causes red tided.

D. Stage of aggregation form plasmodium.

Answer: C  

11. Which of the following group of Protista release a toxin that can kill animal like fish. 

A. Chrysophytes 

B. Dinoflagellates 

C. Euglenoids 

D. Slime mould 

Answer: B  

12. Which of the following statement is not correct for the Euglenoids. 

A. They are found in fresh and stagnant water.

B. They have pigments similar to higher plants.

C. They are primarily heterotrophs. When predator are not present they behave like autotrophic.

D. They have two flagella : one long and another is short.

Answer: C  

13. Euglenoids ( Euglena)

Possess

A. Cell wall but not pellicle.

B. Pellicle but not cell wall.

C. Neither pellicle nor cell wall.

D. Both cell wall and pellicle. 

Answer: D  

14. Which of the following group of Dinoflagellates is not photosynthetic.

A. Chrysophytes 

B. Slime mould 

C. Dinoflagellates 

D. Euglenoids 

Answer : B  

15. Protistan are regarded as connecting link between  animal and fungi due to the 

A. Chrysophytes 

B. Slime mould 

C. Dinoflagellates 

D. Euglenoids 

Answer : B  

16. Which of the following statements is incorrect.

A. Slime moulds are saprophytic and survive on decay organic matter.

B. Their spores need water as medium for the liberation.

C. They are aggregated in favourable condition up to several feet.

D. They form fruiting bodies containing spores in unfavourable condition.

Answer: B 

 

17. Plasmodium is 

A. an aggregated stage of slime moulds.

B. It is formed upto several feet  in unfavourable condition. 

C. It is differentiated in unfavourable condition and form Spore containing fruiting bodies.

D. All of the above.

Answer: D  

18. Spores of slime moulds are liberated from fruiting bodies by the 

A. Air          B.Water

C. Insect       D. Rat 

Answer: A  

19. Spores of which of the following protistan are highly resistant and survive for the several years.

A. Dinoflagellates 

B. Chrysophytes 

C. Euglenoids 

D. Slime moulds

Answer: D  

20. Which of the following protistan are Primitive animals and live as heterotrophs like predator or parasites.

A. Protozoan  

B. Chrysophytes 

C. Euglenoids 

D. Slime moulds

Answer:  A  

21. Protozoan are divided into amoeboid, flagellate, cilliates and sporozoan on the basis of :

A. Locomotory organ

B. Flexible pellicle layer

D. Mode of nutrition 

D. Cellular organisation.

Answer : A  

22.  Match the list 

A.Amoebid  1.Plasmodium

B.Cilliates    2.Paramacium

C.Flagellate3. Trypanosoma

D.Sporozoa 4. Entamoeba

      A       B     C    D

A.   4       2      3     1

B.   4       3      2     1

C.   1       4      3     2

D.   1       3      4     2

Answer: A  

23. Which one of the following statement is not correct about the amoebid protozoan.

A. Members are found in fresh water , marine water or moist soil.

B . They move or capture the prey by the false feet or pseudopodia.

C.  Some marine form of animals have silica shell.

D. Entamoeba is fresh water amoeboid protozoan.

Answer : D 

24. Trypanosoma is parasitic protozoan causing sleeping sickness , belong to :

A. Amoebid 

B. Flagellates

C. Ciliated 

D. Sporozoan 

Answer:  B  

25. Consider the following statement and select the correct code;

1. Flagellates protozoan are free living or parasites.

2. Cilliates protozoan have a food and water laden cavity coordinated by the beating of cilia.

A. Only 1    B. Only 2

C. Both 1 and  2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : C  

26. Gullet is food and water laden cavity open 

A. Outside to cell surface.

B   Inside to cell surface.

C.  Into vacuole.

D.  Cytoplasm 

Answer : A  

27. Consider the following statement and select the correct code:

1. Plasmodium has infected spore like stage.

2. Plasmodium is a sporozoan .

A. Only 1  B. Only 2 

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : C  

28. Identify the following  diagram A and B

 

A. Chrysophytes  and Dinoflagellates 

B. Dinoflagellates  and  Slime moulds

C. Slime moulds and Dinoflagellates 

D. Slime moulds and Chrysophytes 

Answer : A

🚀 Boost Your Preparation (Topic-wise Notes):

​🧬 Kingdom Monera: [Click Here]
​🦠 Kingdom Protista: [Click Here]
​🍄 Kingdom Fungi: [Click Here]
​🧪 Virus, Viroids & Prions: [Click Here]
​🌿 Algae (Phycology): [Click Here]
​🪴 Bryophytes (Amphibians of Plant Kingdom): [Click Here]
​🍀 Pteridophytes (First Vascular Plants): [Click Here]
​🌲 Gymnosperms (Naked Seed Plants): [Click Here]

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