1. Protists
Chapter 21

2. What are Protists?
Protists are eukaryotic organisms that can’t be classified as fungi, plants, or animals
Multicellularity found in some prokaryotes allow cells to specialize, which, in turn, allows for the development of tissues, organs, and organ systems

3. Reproduction Protists can reproduce asexually by
Binary fission: Reproduction by replicating DNA and splitting in half
Budding: When part of a parent organism pinches off and forms a new organism
Fragmentation: When part of an organism is broken off and a new organism starts
Protists can reproduce sexually as a response to environmental stress

4. Groups of Protists
Protists are commonly grouped by how they get nutrition
This leaves us with three groups:

5. Animal-Like Protists
These protists ingest other organisms to obtain energy (heterotrophic by ingestion), like animals!
They are all unicellular
Most can move

6. Plant-Like Protists
These protists get energy through photosynthesis, like plants!
Most are multicellular

7. Fungus-Like Protists
These protists absorb nutrients from the environment (heterotrophic by absorption), like fungi!

8. Pathogenic Protists
Malaria is caused by the animal-like protists Plasmodium
It is spread by the bite of a mosquito
If left untreated, it can cause rupture of the spleen, kidney failure, coma, brain damage, and death
Malaria Video