MicrobiologyLesson 4 of 5 in the course The Eukaryotes of Microbiology

Algal Cell Biology, Ecological Roles, and Major Groups

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Algae are diverse photosynthetic protists, ranging from microscopic single cells to large seaweeds. Studying them matters because they support aquatic ecosystems, influence oxygen and organic-matter production, and can affect human and animal health.

Algae are generally autotrophic protists: they make organic molecules from inorganic substances, typically using photosynthesis. They may be unicellular or multicellular, and they occur in several major eukaryotic lineages. Many algae are microscopic, which makes them relevant to microbiology, while others form large seaweeds that are visible without a microscope.

All flashcards

How do algae differ from cyanobacteria?
Algae are eukaryotes; cyanobacteria are prokaryotic bacteria.
What are pyrenoids?
Structures in some algal chloroplasts involved in starch synthesis and storage.
How do primary and secondary endosymbiosis differ?
Primary endosymbiosis involved engulfing a cyanobacterium; secondary endosymbiosis involved engulfing an alga that already had a primary chloroplast.
What is a diatom frustule?
A diatom's outer cell wall, made of crystallized silica.
What substances occur in red algal cell walls?
Agar or carrageenan, which are useful in food production and laboratory media.

Quiz questions

  1. Which eukaryotic supergroup includes dinoflagellates and stramenopiles in the classification presented here?Answer: Chromalveolata
  2. Which combination of traits characterizes the green algae described here?Answer: Chlorophyll a and b, cellulose walls, and starch storage
  3. Which carbohydrate is the characteristic storage product of brown algae?Answer: Laminarin
  4. What material makes diatom cell walls distinctive?Answer: Crystallized silica
  5. Why are Charophyta considered especially similar to land plants?Answer: They share features including a cell-division mechanism and a biochemical pathway.

Based on Microbiology by Nina Parker, Mark Schneegurt, Anh-Hue Thi Tu, Philip Lister, Brian M. Forster (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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