Biology 102

Study Notes Exam 1 Revised

 

Chapter 20: Classification of Living Things

 

Taxonomy: the branch of biology concerned with identifying and naming organisms

 

The Binomial System

-       Carolus Linnaeus developed the binomial system to name species

-       the binomial system of nomenclature names organisms using a two-part Latin name

o      first part is the genus; closely related species are assigned to the same genus

o      second part is the specific epithet; it usually provides something descriptive about an organism

o      a scientific name consists of both genus and specific epithet (e.g., Panthera tigris and Panthera leo)

o      both names are italicized or underlined; the first letter of only the genus name is capitalized

o      the genus can be abbreviated when used with a specific epithet if the full name was given before (H. sapiens)

-       the classification of organisms is an ongoing process

o      there are estimated to be between 3 and 30 million species living on earth

o      we have currently named one million species of animals and a half million plant and microorganismic species

o      some groups, such as birds, are nearly all known; some insect groups are mostly unknown

 

Identification of a Species

-       Linnaeus considered each species to have a unique structure that made it distinct

-       the biological definition of a species: a group of organisms that interbreed and share the same gene pool

-       when a species has a wide geographic range,they may tend to interbreed where they overlap; these populations may be named as subspecies

o      the rat snakes Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta and Elaphe obsoleta bairdi are subspecies of Elaphe obsoleta

o      including the subspecies makes this a trinomial, or three-part, name

-       in this chapter, a classification approach is taken to the definition of species

o      the term "species" is used for a taxonomic category below the rank of genus

o      species share a more recent common ancestor with species in same genus than with those in other taxa

o      a taxon is a group of organisms in a classification category; Rosa or Felis are taxa at the genus level

o      a common ancestor is an ancestor held in common by at least two lines of descent

 

Classification Categories

-       Aristotle classified life into 14 groups (e.g., mammals, birds, etc.), and subdivided them by size

-       Ray grouped animals and plants according to how he thought they were related

-       today, we use a minimum of 7 categories of classification:

o      kingdom, phylum (or division for plants), class, order, family, genus & species

o      a higher category, the domain, has been proposed to be added to these 7 categories

o      the higher the category, the more inclusive it is

o      members of a kingdom share general characters; members of a species share quite specific characters

o      additional levels of classification can be added by adding super-, sub-, or infra- (e.g., suborder)

 

Phylogenetic Trees

-       Systematics is the study of the diversity of organisms using information from cellular to population levels

o      phylogeny is the evolutionary history of a group of organisms

o      a phylogenetic tree indicates common ancestors and lines of descent or lineages

o      a primitive character is a trait that is present in a common ancestor and all members of a group

o      a derived character is present only in a specific line of descent

-       Fossil Record

o      because fossils can be dated, fossils can establish the age of a species

o      most organisms decay and the chances of becoming a fossil are low

-       Homology

o      homology is a character similarity that is due to having a common ancestor

o      homologous structures are related to each other through common descent but may differ in structure and function (e.g., the forelimbs of a horse and the wings of a bat)

o      analogous structures have the same function but are not derived from the same organ in a common ancestor (e.g., the wings of an insect and the wings of a bat)

o      convergent evolution is acquisition of similar traits in distantly related lines of descent as a result of adaptation to similar environmental conditions

       both spurges and cacti are adapted to a hot, dry environment and are both similar, but details of flower structure indicate these two groups are not closely related

o      parallel evolution produces similar characters in related lineages without occurring in a common ancestor

-       Molecular Data

o      speciation occurs when mutations bring about changes in base pair sequences of DNA

o      Protein Comparisons

       earlier studies used immunological reactions to antibodies, made by injecting a rabbit with cells of one species, to determine the relatedness of two species

       we now use amino acid sequences to determine the differences in proteins between two species

       cytochrome c is a protein found in all aerobic organisms; the amino acid differences in cytochrome c between chickens and humans is 13 but between chickens and ducks is only 3

       since the number of universal proteins is limited, most new studies use RNA and DNA.

-       RNA and DNA Comparisons

o      all cells have ribosomes for protein synthesis; comparing rRNA sequences provides a reliable indicator of similarity

o      Chimpanzees and Humans

       DNA hybridization shows chimpanzees closer to humans than to other apes

       yet humans are kept in a separate family and chimpanzees are with the ape family due to differences in adaptation to the environment

o      Mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) changes ten times faster than nuclear DNA

       mtDNA is often used for closely related species

-       Molecular Clocks

o      nucleic acid changes are not tied to adaptation; the fairly constant changes provide a "molecular clock."

o      the fossil record can then be used to calibrate the clock and confirm the hypothesis drawn from molecular data

 

Systematics Today

-       Cladistic Systematics (Willi Hennig)

o      cladistics analyzes primitive and derived characters and constructs cladograms on the basis of shared derived characters

o      cladogram: a diagram showing relationships among species based on shared, derived characters

o      a clade is an evolutionary branch that includes a common ancestor and all its descendent species

o      Parsimony

       cladists are guided by principle of parsimony‹the minimum number of assumptions is most logical

-       Phenetic Systematics

o      phenetic systematists cluster species on the basis of the number of shared similarities, regardless of whether they might be convergent, parallel, or depend on one another

o      results of their analysis are depicted in a phenogram

o      phenograms vary for the same group of organisms, depending on how the data are collected and handled

-       Traditional Systematics

o      traditional systematics stresses common ancestry and the degree of structural difference among divergent groups in order to construct phylogenetic trees

       a monophyletic group does not include all groups from all ancestors

o      cladists would not use "reptiles" because it does not include all organisms derived from reptiles

Classification Systems

-       Naming the Kingdoms

o      early biologists recognized two kingdoms: animals (kingdom Animalia) and plants (kingdom Plantae)

o      in 1969, R. H. Whittaker suggested a five kingdom system based on cell type, organization, and nutrition:

       Monera: prokaryotic bacteria that obtain organic molecules by absorption or photosynthesis

       Protista: mainly unicellular eukaryotes that obtain organic molecules by absorption, ingestion, or photosynthesis; the classification of protists is debated

       Plantae: multicellular eukaryotes, autotrophic by photosynthesis

       Animalia: multicellular eukaryotes, heterotrophic by ingestion, are generally motile

       Fungi: multicellular eukaryotes, heterotrophic saprotrophs that form spores, lack flagella and have cell walls containing chitin

o      generally, protists are considered to have evolved from monerans, and the fungi, plants, and animals evolved from protists via three separate lineages

-       Three-Domain System

o      sequencing of rRNA suggests all organisms evolved along three distinct lineages: domains Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

o      bacteria diverged first; archaea and eukarya are more closely related than either is to bacteria

o      the archaea live in extreme environments: methanogens in anaerobic swamps, halophiles in salt lakes, and thermoacidophiles in hot acidic environments

o      the archaea cell wall is diverse but not the same as the bacterial cell wall

o      eukarya contains unicellular to multicellular organisms, always with a membrane-bound nucleus

 

 


Chapter 21: Viruses, Bacteria & Archaea

 

The Viruses

-       viruses are not organisms: they are noncellular; cannot metabolize; cannot respond to stimuli; multiply only within living cells by parasitizing the synthetic machinery of the infected cell; and evolve as a result of mutation and natural selection

-       all viruses are infectious

-       in 1884, Pasteur suspected something smaller than bacteria caused rabies; he chose the Latin term for "poison."

-       Viral Structure

o      viruses are similar in size to a large protein, generally smaller than 200 nm in diameter

o      many viruses can be purified and crystallized, and the crystals stored for long periods of time... viral crystals become infectious when the viral particles they contain invade host cells

o      all viruses have at least two parts:

       an outer capsid is composed of protein subunits

       an inner core contains either DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA (ribonucleic acid), but not both

      the viral genome at most has several hundred genes; a human cell contains thousands of genes

      the viral envelope is usually partly host plasma membrane (phospholipids) with viral glycoprotein spikes

      viral particles have proteins, especially enzymes (e.g., polymerases), to produce viral DNA or RNA

-       the classification of viruses is based on: their type of nucleic acid (including whether it is single-stranded or double-stranded); their size and shape; and the presence or absence of an outer envelope

-       Parasitic Nature

o      viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that cannot multiply outside a cell

o      animal viruses in laboratories are raised in live chick embryos or in cell culture

o      viruses infect all sorts of cells, from bacteria to human cells, but are very specific (tobacco mosaic virus only infects certain plants; the rabies virus infects only mammals; the AIDS virus, HIV, infects only certain human blood cells; hepatitis virus invades only liver tissues; polio virus only reproduces in spinal nerve cells)

-       Virus Evolution

o      viruses are likely to have originated from the very cells that they infect

o      viruses often mutate; therefore, it is correct to say that they evolve

o      viral mutation can be troublesome: a vaccine effective today may not be effective tomorrow (influenza (flu) viruses mutate regularly)

-       Viral Reproduction

o      viruses gain entry into and are specific to a particular host cell because portions of the capsid (or spikes of the envelope) adhere to specific receptor sites on host cell surface

o      viral nucleic acid then enters a cell, where the viral genome codes for production of protein units in the capsid

o      the virus relies on host cell enzymes, ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and ATP for its own replication

-       Replication of Bacteriophages

o      bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that parasitize a bacterial cell

o      lytic cycle: a bacteriophage "life" cycle of five stages where a virus takes over operation of the bacterium immediately upon entering it and then destroys the bacterium

       attachment: portions of the capsid bind with receptors on the bacterial cell wall

       penetration: a viral enzyme digests part of cell wall; the viral DNA is injected into a bacterial cell

       biosynthesis: synthesis of viral components - begins after the virus brings about inactivation of host genes not necessary to viral replication

       maturation: viral DNA and capsids are assembled to produce several hundred viral particles and lysozyme, coded by the virus, is produced

       release: when lysozyme disrupts the cell wall (breaks down peptidoglycan), the viral particles are released and the bacterial cell dies (lysis)

o      lysogenic cycle: a cycle where the virus incorporates its DNA into the bacterium but only later does it produce phage

       following attachment and penetration, viral DNA becomes integrated into bacterial DNA with no destruction of host DNA

       at this point the phage is latent and the viral DNA is called a prophage

       a prophage is replicated along with host DNA; all subsequent cells (lysogenic cells) carry a copy

       certain environmental factors (e.g., ultraviolet radiation) induce a prophage to enter the biosynthesis stage of the lytic cycle, followed by maturation and release

-       Reproduction of Animal Viruses

o      animal viruses replicate similarly to bacteriophages but there are modifications

o      if the virus has an envelope, glycoprotein spikes allow it to adhere to plasma membrane receptors

o      the virus genome covered by the capsid penetrates the host cell

o      once inside, the virus is uncoated as the envelope and capsid are removed

o      free of its covering, the viral genome (DNA or RNA) proceeds with biosynthesis

o      newly assembled viral particles are released by budding

o      components of viral envelopes (i.e., lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates) are obtained from the plasma or nuclear membrane of the host cell as viruses leave

o      retrovirus: an RNA animal virus with a DNA stage

       retroviruses contain reverse transcriptase that carries out reverse transcription producing cDNA from RNA

       viral cDNA is integrated into host DNA and is replicated as host DNA replicates

       viral DNA is transcribed; new viruses are produced by biosynthesis, maturation and release by budding.

-       Viral Infections

o      viruses cause infectious diseases in plants and animals, including humans

o      some animal viruses are specific to human cells: papillomavirus, herpes virus, hepatitis virus, and adenoviruses, which can cause specific cancers

o      retroviruses include the AIDS viruses (e.g., HIV) and also cause certain forms of cancer

o      some viruses are cancer-producing because they bring with them oncogenes, normal genes transformed so they can cause the cell to undergo repeated cell divisions

o      in humans, viral diseases are controlled by preventing transmission, administering vaccines, and only recently by the administration of antiviral drugs

o      antibiotics do not cure viral infections because viruses use host cell enzymes, not their own enzymes; interfering with the enzyme kills the host cell

o      over 1,000 plant viruses cause diseases; virus infections are difficult to distinguish from nutrient deficiencies and plants are propagated to stay free of virus infection

o      viroids are naked strands of RNA, a dozen of which cause crop diseases

o      prions are newly discovered disease agents that vary from viruses and bacteria

       prions are proteins with a wrongly shaped tertiary structure that cause other proteins to distort

       Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and scrapie and mad cow disease (BSE) in cattle are due to prions

 

The Prokaryotes - the bacteria and archaea

-       Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (Dutch naturalist, 17th century) discovered bacteria while examining scrapings from his teeth

-       ~ 1850, Pasteur devised an experiment showing that the bacteria present in air contaminated the media

-       Structure of Prokaryotes

o      prokaryote means "before a nucleus" and their cells lack a eukaryotic nucleus

o      prokaryotic fossils date back to 3.5 billion years ago...

o      prokaryotes range in size from 1-10 µm in length and from 0.7-1.5 µm in width

o      most prokaryotes have a rigid cell wall (made from peptidoglycan in bacteria) outside the plasma membrane that keeps the cell from bursting or collapsing due to osmotic changes

o      glycocalyx surrounding the cell wall can be an organized capsule &/or a loose gelatinous sheath called a slime layer; in parasitic forms, these outer coverings protect the cell from host defenses

o      flagella: structure outside cell used for locomotion by some prokaryotes

o      fimbriae: short hairlike filaments extending from the surface that allow many prokaryotes adhere to surfaces

o      prokaryotic cells lack the membranous organelles of eukaryotic cells

o      metabolic pathways are located on the plasma membrane

o      nucleoid: a dense area in prokaryotes where the chromosome is located; it is a single circular strand of DNA

o      plasmids: accessory rings of DNA found in some prokaryotes; they can be extracted and used as vectors to carry foreign DNA into bacteria during genetic engineering procedures

o      protein synthesis in prokaryotic cells is carried out by thousands of ribosomes, which are smaller than eukaryotic ribosomes

-       Reproduction in Prokaryotes

o      binary fission is a splitting of a parent cell into two daughter cells; it is asexual reproduction in prokaryotes

       mitosis does not occur in prokaryotes

o      because prokaryotes have a short generation time, mutations are generated and distributed through a population more rapidly

o      in bacteria, genetic recombination can occur in three ways:

       conjugation: a bacterium passes DNA to a second bacterium through a tube (sex pilus) that temporarily joins two cells; this occurs only between bacteria in the same or closely related species

       transformation: bacteria take up free pieces of DNA secreted by live bacteria or released by dead bacteria

       transduction: a bacteriophage transfers portions of bacterial DNA from one cell to another

o      plasmids can carry genes for resistance to antibiotics and transfer them between bacteria by any of these processes

-       Endospore Formation

o      some bacteria form resistant endospores in response to unfavorable environmental conditions

o      the chromosome & some cytoplasm dehydrate and are encased by three heavy, protective spore coats... the rest of the bacterial cell deteriorates and the endospore is released

o      endospores survive in the harshest of environments: desert heat and dehydration, boiling temperatures, polar ice, and extreme ultraviolet radiation

o      when environmental conditions are again suitable, the endospore absorbs water and grows out of spore coat & soon becomes a typical bacterium

o      endospore formation is not reproduction but it is a means of survival and dispersal to new locations.

-       Prokaryotic Nutrition:

o      bacteria differ in the need for, and tolerance of, oxygen (O2)

       obligate anaerobes are unable to grow in the presence of O2 (anaerobic bacteria that cause botulism, gas gangrene, and tetanus)

       facultative anaerobes are able to grow in either the presence or absence of gaseous O2

       aerobic organisms (including animals and most prokaryotes) require a constant supply of O2 to carry out cellular respiration

o      autotrophic prokaryotes

       photoautotrophs are photosynthetic and use light energy to assemble the organic molecules they require

       chemoautotrophs make organic molecules by using energy derived from the oxidation of inorganic compounds (H2S, NH3) in the environment

o      heterotrophic prokaryotes

       most free-living bacteria are chemoheterotrophs that take in pre-formed organic nutrients

       decomposers are critical in recycling materials in the ecosystem; they decomposing dead organic matter and make it available to photosynthesizers

o      commercial uses

       prokaryotes produce chemicals including ethyl alcohol, acetic acid, butyl alcohol, and acetones

       prokaryotic action produces butter, cheese, sauerkraut, rubber, cotton, silk, coffee and cocoa

       antibiotics are produced by some bacteria

o      some chemoheterotrophs are symbiotic, forming intimate, long-term relationships with members of other species; includes mutualistic, commensalistic, and parasitic relationships

       mutualistic nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria live in nodules on roots of soybean, clover, and alfalfa where they reduce N2 to ammonia for their host; bacteria use some of a plant's photosynthetically produced organic molecules

       mutualistic bacteria that live in the intestines of humans benefit from undigested material and release vitamins K and B12, which we use to produce blood components

       in the stomachs of cows and goats, mutualistic prokaryotes digest cellulose (produce cellulase)

       commensalistic bacteria live in or on organisms of other species and cause them no harm

       parasitic bacteria are responsible for a wide variety of infectious plant, animal and human diseases

 

The Bacteria

-       Gram Stain and Shape

o      the Gram stain procedure (developed in the late 1880s by Hans Christian Gram) differentiates bacteria

       Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan cell wall & stain purple

       Gram-negative bacteria have a thin cell wall & stain pink

o      bacteria and archaea have three basic shapes: spirillum (spiral-shaped), bacillus (elongated or rod-shaped bacteria) and coccus (spherical bacteria)

o      cocci and bacilli tend to form clusters and chains of a length typical of the particular species

-       Types of Bacteria

o      12 groups are now recognized based on bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA sequences

-       Cyanobacteria

o      cyanobacteria are Gram-negative bacteria with a number of unusual traits

o      they photosynthesize in same manner as plants; are responsible for introducing O2 into the primitive atmosphere

o      they were formerly mistaken for eukaryotes and classified with algae

o      they have pigments that mask chlorophyll (blue-green, red, yellow, brown, black)

o      they are relatively large (1-50 µm in width)

o      they can be unicellular, colonial, or filamentous

o      some move by gliding or oscillating

o      some possess heterocysts, thick-walled cells without a nucleoid, where nitrogen fixation occurs

o      cyanobacteria are common in fresh water, soil, on moist surfaces, and in harsh habitats (e.g., hot springs)

o      some are symbiotic with other organisms (e.g., liverworts, ferns, and corals)

o      lichens are a symbiotic relationship where the cyanobacteria provide organic nutrients to the fungus and the fungus protects and supplies inorganic nutrients

o      cyanobacteria "bloom " when nitrates and phosphates are released as wastes into water; when they die off, decomposing bacteria use up the oxygen and cause fish kills

 

The Archaea

-       Relationship to Domain Bacteria and Domain Eukarya

o      Archaea are prokaryotes with molecular characteristics that distinguish them from bacteria and eukaryotes; their rRNA sequence is different from rRNA in bacteria

-       Structure and Function

o      Archaea have unusual lipids in their plasma membranes that allow them to function at high temperatures

o      cell walls of archaea do not contain the peptidoglycan found in bacterial cell walls

o      some are mutualistic or commensalistic but none are parasitic‹none are known to cause disease

-       Types of Archaea

o      methanogens live under anaerobic environments (e.g., marshes) where they produce methane

       methane released to the atmosphere contributes to the greenhouse effect; about 65% of methane found in our atmosphere is produced by methanogenic archaea

o      halophiles require high salt concentrations (e.g., Great Salt Lake)

       usually they require 12-15% salt concentrations; ocean is only 3.5% salt

o      thermoacidophiles live under hot, acidic environments (e.g., geysers). a. They survive best at temperatures above 80šC; some survive above boiling

       metabolism of sulfides forms acidic sulfates; these bacteria grow best at pH of 1 to 2

 

 


Chapter 22: The Protists

 

General Biology of Protists

-       Protists are classified in the domain Eukarya and the kingdom Protista

-       the endosymbiotic hypothesis explains how the eukaryotic cells arose

o      it proposes that aerobic bacteria became mitochondria & cyanobacteria became chloroplasts after being taken up by eukaryotic cells; spirochetes became flagella

-       Giardia has two nuclei but no mitochondria; the nucleus therefore came before the mitochondria

-       ecological importance of protists:

o      some are of great medical importance in causing disease; others are ecologically important

o      plankton float near the surface and serve as food for heterotrophic protists and animals

o      plankton that photosynthesize produce much of the oxygen in the atmosphere

o      many protists enter symbiotic relationships; coral reefs rely on symbiotic photosynthetic protists

-       evolution of protists:

o      multicellular algae are not plants; they do not protect their gametes and zygote from drying out

o      none are fungi; those that resemble fungi lack flagella and do not have chitin in their cell wall

o      none are animals; the heterotrophic protists do not undergo embryonic development

 

Diversity of the Protists

Algae: refers to many phyla that carry out photosynthesis; at one time, algae were grouped with plants because they have chlorophyll a and photosynthesize

-       The Green Algae: Phylum Chlorophyta

o      they live in the ocean but are more likely found in fresh water and can even be found on moist land

o      green algae are not always green; some have pigments that give them an orange, red, or rust color

o      body organizations include single cells, colonies, filaments and multicellular forms

o      plants are considered to be most closely related to the green algae

o      Chlamydomonas, a uicellular green algae

       Chlamydomonas is less than 25 m long; it has a cell wall and a single, large, cup-shaped chloroplast with a pyrenoid for starch synthesis

       the chloroplast contains a light-sensitive eyespot (stigma) that directs the cell to light for photosynthesis

       2 long whiplike flagella project from the anterior end to propel the cell toward light

       Chlamydomonas reproduces asexually with zoospores when growth conditions are favorable, & reproduces sexually when growth conditions are unfavorable

       gametes from two different mating types join to form a zygote with a heavy wall; the resistant zygospore survives until conditions are favorable

       some are heterogametes similar to sperm and egg that stores food, a condition called oogamy

       in most, gametes are identical, a condition called isogamy

o      Spirogyra, a filamentous green algae

       cell division in one plane produces end-to-end chains of cells or filaments

       Spirogyra is a filamentous algae found on surfaces of ponds and streams

       it has ribbonlike spiral chloroplasts

       2 strands may unite in conjugation and exchange genetic material, forming a diploid zygote

o      Multicellular Green Algae

       plants are probably most related to green algae because both have a cell wall with cellulose, have chlorophyll a and b, and store food as starch

       the multicellular Ulva is called sea lettuce because of its leafy appearance

      the thallus (body) is two cells thick but can be a meter long

      Ulva has an alternation of generations life cycle, as do plants, but the generations look alike

      the gametes look alike (isogametes) and the spores are flagellated

       Stoneworts are green algae that live in freshwater lakes and ponds

      the stonewort Chara forms a cell plate during cell division & has multicellular sex organs making plants most closely related to this group

      Chara also has a stemlike body with nodes and internodes; the cells of the body originate from apical meristem, features that are homologous with plants

o      Volvox, a colonial green algae

       Volvox is a hollow sphere with thousands of cells arranged in a single layer

       Volvox cells resembles Chlamydomonas cells; a colony arises as if daughter cells fail to separate

       Volvox cells cooperate when flagella beat in a coordinated fashion

       some cells are specialized forming a new daughter colony within the parental colony

-       The Red Algae: Phylum Rhodophyta

-       red algae are chiefly marine multicellular algae that live in warmer seawater

-       they are generally much smaller and more delicate than brown algae

-       some are filamentous, but most are branched, having a feathery, flat, or ribbonlike appearance

-       coralline algae are red algae with cell walls with calcium carbonate; they contribute to coral reefs

-       red algae are economically important

o      mucilaginous material in cell walls of Gelidium and Gracilaria is the source of agar used in drug capsules, dental impressions, cosmetics

o      in the laboratory, agar is a major microbiological media, and when purified, is a gel for electrophoresis

o      agar is used in food preparation to keep baked goods from drying and to set jellies and desserts

o      carrageen is an emulsifying agent extracted from Chondrus crispus and used in production of chocolate and cosmetics

-       The Brown Algae: Phylum Phaeophyta

o      they range from small forms with simple filaments to large multicellular (50-100 m long) seaweeds

o      brown algae have chlorophylls a and c and a fucoxanthin giving them their color

o      their reserve food is a carbohydrate called laminarin

o      seaweed refers to any large, complex alga

o      their cell walls contain a mucilaginous water-retaining material that inhibits desiccation (drying out)

o      Laminaria is an intertidal kelp that is unique among protists; this genus shows tissue differentiation

o      Nereocystis and Macrocystis are giant kelps found in deeper water anchored to the bottom by their holdfasts

o      individuals of the genus Sargassum sometimes break off from their holdfasts and form floating masses

o      brown algae provide food and habitat for marine organisms, and they are also important to humans

       brown algae are harvested for human food and for fertilizer in several parts of the world

       Macrocystis is a source of algin, a pectinlike substance added to give foods a stable, smooth consistency

       most have an alternation of generations life cycle

o      Fucus is an intertidal rockweed; meiotic cell division produces gametes and adult is always diploid

 

 

-       The Diatoms: Phylum Bacillariophyta (diatoms and golden brown alga)

o      diatoms are the most numerous unicellular algae in the oceans and an important source of food and O2 in aquatic systems

o      diatom cell walls consist of two silica (glass)-containing halves or valves with a variety of markings formed by pores

o      diatom remains accumulate on the ocean floor and are mined as diatomaceous earth for use as filters, abrasives, etc.

 

-       The Flagellates: Phylum Pyrrophyta (unicellular dinoflagellates)