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Protists are tiny organisms in the Domain of Eukarya. Historically they were part of the Kingdom of Protista, but this is no longer the case. Protists are incredibly diverse, and there is little to bind them together as a grouping, except for the simplicity of their structure. Protists have either one cell, or else have multiple cells without any specialized tissues. This is what distinguishes protists from other eukaryotes like animals, plants, and fungi. Historically, protists were divided into three groups, based on which of the major Kingdoms they were most similar to. Although this particular classification is no longer formally used, many people still use them to describe protists. The protozoa are the protists which have the most in common with animals. The protophyta have more in common with plants and slime molds are most similar to fungi. Some protists are motile, able to move by using flagella, pseudopodia, or cilia, while others are unable to move. They may live on their own by absorbing energy from sunlight, or they may live symbiotically with a host organism. In some cases, protists may engage in a mutual symbiotic relationship, where the protists gain energy from the host, but perform some beneficial service in return, but often they are parasitic, simply leeching energy off of the host. Protists play fundamental roles in the ecosystems of the world. As such, many protists are quite beneficial to humans. Others, however, are harmful to humans. Protists such as apicomplexa and kinetoplastids cause any number of diseases that afflict human beings, such as malaria, and some protists, such as the amoeba, can cause serious illness when their population gets out of control in the body. The protophyta, or algae, are the protists which play the most beneficial role for humans. Many of the protophyta form the basis of the food chain which drives the engine of life on the planet. The algae create food for other organisms, growing and expanding by absorbing the light of the sun through photosynthesis and serving as food for the lowest-level animal organisms, which in turn serve as food all the way up the food chain. The vast majority of the plankton in the ocean consists of various protists. These algae often look like plants, but they differ in a number of key ways: they have no leaves, no stems, no roots, and no distinct helper parts. In spite of this, they may reach large sizes not usually associated with simple oranisms. Protophyta not only create food, but they also respirate oxygen, making them crucial for sustaining animal life on the planet. In fact, algae generate about half of the oxygen generated by photosynthesis on the planet. It is beyond doubt that the protists play one of the most important roles in sustaining human health on the planet. Without the protists, the ocean’s food chain would collapse, and in turn the food chain as a whole would crumble, and at the same time oxygen would be reduced drastically.

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Related Questions

How does protists help the body?

Protists are not known to have a direct benefit to the human body. Some protists can cause diseases in humans, like malaria caused by Plasmodium. However, there are beneficial protists in other organisms, like in the rumen of cows where they help in digesting cellulose.


Why are protists important to humans?

Protists are important to humans because they serve as food sources for various marine organisms, help in recycling nutrients in ecosystems, and some species of protists are used in research to understand biological processes better. Additionally, certain protists are responsible for causing diseases in humans, such as malaria and giardiasis, making them significant in public health.


How does animal like protists affect humans?

they cause siknness to humans animals


What is the most widespread disease that protists cause among humans?

Malaria


Do the protists help or harm the animal?

they help the animal... they are not harmful


If Some protists live inside the digestive systems of animals do protists help or harm the animal they live inside?

They help the digestive systems and help digest any food


Some protists live inside the digestive system of animals. Do the protists help or harm the animal they live inside?

They help the digestive systems and help digest any food


Do protists harm the animal or help the animal?

they help the animal... they are not harmful


Can protists be parasites or decomposers?

Yes, protists can be parasites, living off a host organism. Some protists are known to cause diseases in animals and humans. Protists can also act as decomposers, breaking down organic matter in ecosystems and recycling nutrients.


Three ways that protists are important to humans?

Protists are important to humans because they are a major food source, aid in digestion and they consume bacteria. They also produce about half of the world's oxygen. If the world didn't have protists the food chain would collapse, and we wouldn't have as much of the oxygen that we breath today.


Human beings are protists or organism?

Humans are known to be living organism. This is taught in science.


How do protists help us?

by building cars and flying