Prokaryotes to Plants

Reece et al., Chapters 27-28

Principles of Biology I (Biology 113) Notes, 2014
Prokaryotes (Chapter 27)

prevailing scientific view holds that these simple, microscopic

organisms are the earths oldest residents (> 3.5 billion yrs old)
although simple compared to eukaryotes (=organisms with
organelles), very complex compared to non-life
highly successful more in a handful of soil than the number of:

Bacteria and Archaea

In five kingdom system, bacteria and archaea = Monera
evidence from molecular analysis suggests bacteria and archaea are
vastly differentnow they are given their own kingdomsor even
domains
Prokaryote structure
Shape: spherical, rod-shaped, and spiral
Size: 1-5 m vs. 10-100 m for eukaryotes (but largest = 0.75m)
Genome: about 1/1000th the DNA of eukaryotes
Bacterial Ecology
in chemical cycles bacteria fix carbon and nitrogen, produce
oxygen, produce methane

though some bacteria cause disease, e.g., tooth decay bacteria or

Lyme disease, other symbiotic forms beneficial or merely opportunistic
Protists (Chapter 28)

Small but complex

although often one-celled, single cells often more complex

than the cells of
multicellular eukaryotes e.g. Euglena
Protist Origins
Biologist postulate eukaryotes received mitochondria and
chloroplasts via endosymbiosis

Mitochondria from proteobacteria

Chloroplasts from cyanobacteria

Evidence for endosymbiosis

such endosymbiotic relationships exist at present

mitochondria (m) and chloroplasts (c) similar in size to bacteria

membrane enzymes of m & c similar

reproduction by binary fission

m & c genomes and associated machinery similar

ribosomal RNA of mitochondria more similar to that of bacteria

than eukaryotes the kingdom Protista is obsolete

Problem: Protista is not monophyletic

Algal taxonomist, Amy Carlile

Amy Carlile, assistant professor of Marine Biology at University of New Haven
TWU grad, authority on red algae taxonomy
Supergroup Excavata

Some members have an excavated groove on one side

Includes Giardia = cause of beaver fever

Supergroup Chromalveolata

May have originated via an ancient secondary endosymbiosis, i.e.,

evidence suggests a common ancestor engulfed a red algae

Includes the magnificent diatoms

Supergroup Rhizaria

Species of amoebas with threadlike pseudopodia

e.g., forams with porous tests

fossils often form sediments

Supergroup Archaeplastida

Photosynthetic species (with chloroplasts) including red and green

algae AND land plants

Supergroup Unikonta

Eukaryote group that includes amoebas with lobe-shaped

pseudopodia and slime molds

Also includes fungi and animmals!!