Protista
The kingdom Protista is much more diverse than any other kingdom. Protists
do not form a neat group that has certain traits in common instead they are
extremely varied. It is just a grab-bag collection of organisms that do not fit into
any other kingdom.
Protists are all eukaryotic but they vary widely, from single cells to huge
200ft long seaweeds. Some are photosynthetic, but others collect food like an
animal. The main groups are the subkingdom algae (photosynthetic), protozoa
(animal-like) and slime molds.
A)
Web site name: Science Daily
Web URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070830165013.htm
Read “Weird ‘Engine of the Reef’ revealed”
1)
What is Symbiodinium? _________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2)
What evidence is there that corals “farm” these plants?
_____________________________________________________________
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3)
In what way are these algae “weird”?
_____________________________________________________________
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4)
Why would a decline in the algae be harmful? _______________________
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5)
What environmental factor has caused coral bleaching in the last 30 years?
___________________________________________________________
6)
How many genes does Symbiodinium have?
7)
What percentage of CO2 entering the oceans is used up by these algae?
______ %
___________________
B)
Web site address: Science Daily
Web URL:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100304121542.htm
Read “Plodding amoeba”
8)
What distinguishes eukaryotes from prokaryotes?
_____________________________________________________________
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9)
From where was this particular organism collected and isolated?
_____________________________________________________________
10)
What is the scientific name of this amoeba?
______________ ________________
11)
What is usual, or rare, about this particular species? ___________________
_____________________________________________________________
12)
How many protein-coding genes does the amoeba have? ________________
13) How many genes may have been part of the first eukaryotes?
____________________________
14)
What protein is important in flagella?
_____________________________________________________________
15)
Explain the “metabolic flexibility” that the amoeba exhibits.
_____________________________________________________________
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C)
Web site name: CNET news
Web URL:
http://www.news.com/Start-up-drills-for-oil-in-algae/2100-1008_3-5714269.html
Read “Start-up drills for oil in algae”
16)
What is the source of the carbon fed to the algae? ___________________
17)
What are the two potential benefits of the system?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
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18)
Why are algae used here and not photosynthetic plants?
_____________________________________________________________
19)
Apart from carbon dioxide, what other gas do the algae break down?
_____________________________________________________________
20)
What crop plant is currently used to produce biodiesel that works in existing
diesel engines?
___________________________________
21)
What is one limitation of Greenfuel’s technology?
_____________________________________________________________
D)
Web site name: BBC News: Malaria
Web URL:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/world/05/malaria_global_menace/html/ancient_scourge.stm
Read “Malaria – Ancient scourge”
22)
How did “malaria” get its name? __________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
23)
Explain the difference between “airport malaria” and “imported malaria”
Airport: ______________________________________________________
Imported: _____________________________________________________
Click on “How it Spreads”
24)
Why does only the female mosquito transmit malaria?
_____________________________________________________________
25)
What are three complications of severe malaria?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
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Click on “Treatment”
26)
List the main parts of the world where malaria was endemic in 2003:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
27)
What are the two advantages, and one disadvantage of chloroquine?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Click on “Further steps”
28)
What is the main focus now?
_____________________________________________________________
E)
Web site name: Centers for Disease Control
Web URL: http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/history/index.html
Read several parts of “The History of Malaria”. Pick out one that you find
interesting.
29)
Which section did you pick out? __________________________________
30)
Summarize some of the information in this website: ___________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Use a search engine (such as http://www.google.com/ ) to find recent articles about
malaria, including vaccines, treatment or new drugs.
31)
Which website did you find interesting? _____________________________
32)
How recent is the information on the website? ________________________
33)
Does the website have photos or diagrams? __________________________
34)
Summarize the information on the website:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
F)
Web site name: Science Dialy
Web URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090324171556.htm
Read “New possibilities for Hydrogen-producing Algae”
35)
In which habitat is this alga found? ________________________________
36)
Which enzyme produces hydrogen? ________________________________
37)
What chemical does this mutant strain of algae produce, which is a widely
used industrial chemical? __________________________________
38)
What three environmental factors can be extremely variable in soil?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
39)
Why is it better to produce hydrogen from algae, instead of ethanol from
crops? _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
G)
Web site name: Science Dialy
Web URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090408145556.htm
Read “Ancient diatoms lead to new technology for solar energy”
40)
What chemical makes up the shell, or outer wall, of a diatom?
________________________
41)
Why are researchers still interested in using diatoms, even though they are
more expensive than some existing approaches?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
42)
What are two advantages of dye-sensitized technology compared to silicon?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
43)
Which chemical is used as the thin film semiconductor in this solar device?
________________________________________
44)
Why are the holes in diatom shells useful? __________________________
____________________________________________________________
45)
How far back in the fossil record are diatoms found?
_________________________________________