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Related Concept Videos

Diversity of Protists I01:15

Diversity of Protists I

Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
Diversity of Protists IV01:27

Diversity of Protists IV

Amoebozoa represent a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists that utilize lobe-shaped pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. This characteristic differentiates them from the Rhizaria, which possess threadlike pseudopodia. The primary classifications within Amoebozoa include gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that Amoebozoa diverged from a lineage that ultimately gave rise to fungi and animals.Gymnamoebas and...
Diversity of Protists III01:27

Diversity of Protists III

Rhizaria are a diverse group of unicellular protists characterized by their threadlike cytoplasmic extensions known as pseudopodia. These structures aid in both locomotion and feeding, giving Rhizaria an amoeboid appearance. Their amoeboid morphology once led to taxonomic confusion, but molecular phylogenetics has clarified their evolutionary placement and emphasized their shared use of pseudopodia despite divergent lineages.This clade comprises diverse lineages such as Chlorarachniophyta,...
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons02:54

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...
The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes02:40

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The “tree of life” describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ancestor to all life on Earth. All other species radiate from this point, much like the branches of a tree. The numerous tips of these branches on the tree of life represent every living, or extant, species. Extinct species, which are species that no longer exist, can be found towards the center of the tree. Currently, these organisms, both extant and...

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Tick Microbiome Characterization by Next-Generation 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequencing
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Evaluating support for the current classification of eukaryotic diversity.

Laura Wegener Parfrey1, Erika Barbero, Elyse Lasser

  • 1Program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America.

Plos Genetics
|December 30, 2006
PubMed
Summary

The current six-supergroup classification of eukaryotes is unstable, with varying support for evolutionary origins. This suggests the system may be premature for robust phylogenetic studies.

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Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin
08:57

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Published on: August 14, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Eukaryotic diversity and classification
  • Molecular phylogenetics
  • Evolutionary biology

Background:

  • Traditional five-kingdom classification of eukaryotes has evolved into a six-supergroup system.
  • The supergroup system aims to unify microbial and macroscopic eukaryotes using phylogenetic inference.
  • This classification is gaining traction in scientific literature and introductory biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the stability and phylogenetic support for the current six-supergroup classification of eukaryotes.
  • To assess taxonomic stability, monophyly support within supergroups, and out-group utility.
  • To identify factors contributing to classification instability.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of molecular genealogies to assess eukaryotic supergroup stability.
  • Evaluation of taxonomic stability across the six supergroups.
  • Assessment of monophyly support using targeted and out-group phylogenetic analyses.

Main Results:

  • Supergroup taxonomies exhibit significant instability.
  • Support for monophyly within supergroups varies considerably.
  • The current classification scheme for eukaryotes appears to be premature.

Conclusions:

  • The current six-supergroup classification of eukaryotes lacks robust phylogenetic support.
  • Instability in taxonomy and monophyly indicates a need for further research.
  • Establishing stable eukaryotic clades requires addressing identified trends and meeting specific requirements.