unicellular

organism
Intro

unicellular organism, also known as a single-celled

organism, is an organism that consists of a single cell,
unlike a multicellular organism that consists of
multiple cells. Organisms fall into two general
categories: prokaryotic organisms and eukaryotic
organisms.
 Prokaryotes

● Prokaryotes lack membrane-bound organelles, such as

mitochondria or a nucleus
● prokaryotes have a single, circular chromosome, which
is in contrast to eukaryotes, which typically have linear
chromosome
● Prokaryotes are relatively ubiquitous in the
environment and some (known as extremophiles)
thrive in extreme environments.
Bacteria

● Bacteria are one of the world's oldest forms of life, and are found
virtually everywhere in nature.
● Many common bacteria have plasmids, which are short, circular,
self-replicating DNA molecules that are separate from the bacterial
chromosome.
● Bacteria predominantly reproduce asexually through a process called
binary fission. However, about 80 different species can undergo a
sexual process referred to as natural genetic transformation
● Clonal aging occurs naturally in bacteria, and is apparently due to the
accumulation of damage that can happen even in the absence of
external stressors
● The photosynthetic cyanobacteria are arguably the most
successful bacteria, and changed the early atmosphere of the
earth by oxygenating it.
structure of
bacteria
Archaea

Archaea are generally similar in appearance to bacteria, hence their original classification as bacteria,
but have significant molecular differences most notably in their membrane structure and ribosomal
RNA.

By sequencing the ribosomal RNA, it was found that the Archaea most likely split from bacteria and
were the precursors to modern eukaryotes, and are actually more phylogenetically related to
eukaryotes.

Examples of these Archaean extremophiles are as follows:

● Acidophiles, optimum growth pH of less than 3, including the genera Sulfolobus and
Picrophilus
● Alkaliphiles, optimum growth pH of greater than 8, including the genus Natronomonas.

● Thermophiles, optimum growth temperature of 50 °C-110 °C, including the genera

Pyrobaculum, Pyrodictium, Pyrococcus, Thermus aquaticus and Melanopyrus

● Halophiles, grow optimally in high salt concentrations between 0.2 M and 5.2 M NaCl,
including the genera Haloarcula, Haloferax, Halococcus
 Eukaryotes

● Eukaryotic cells contain membrane bound organelles, such as

mitochondria, a nucleus, and chloroplasts
● Metabolic functions in eukaryotes are more specialized as well
by sectioning specific processes into organelles
● While not all eukaryotes have mitochondria or chloroplasts, mitochondria are
found in most eukaryotes, and chloroplasts are found in all plants and algae.
Photosynthesis and respiration are essentially the reverse of one another, and the
advent of respiration coupled with photosynthesis enabled much greater access to
energy than fermentation alone.
Protozoa

● Protozoa are largely defined by their method of locomotion, including flagella, cilia, and
pseudopodia.

● Autotrophs like Euglena are capable of producing their energy using

photosynthesis, while heterotrophic protozoa consume food by either
funneling it through a mouth-like gullet or engulfing it with pseudopods, a form
of phagocytosis.

● Protozoa with sexual capability include the pathogenic species Plasmodium

falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma brucei, Giardia duodenalis and
Leishmania species
structure of
protozoa
Unicellular algae

Unicellular algae are plant-like autotrophs and contain chlorophyll

They include groups that have both multicellular and unicellular species:

● Euglenophyta, flagellated, mostly unicellular algae that occur often in fresh

water.
In contrast to most other algae, they lack cell walls and can be mixotrophic (both
autotrophic and heterotrophic)

● The chlorophyta are of particular importance because they are believed to be most
closely related to the evolution of land plants.

● Dinoflagellates, unicellular flagellated algae, with some that are armored with
cellulose
Some dinoflagellates, like Pyrocystis fusiformis, are capable of bioluminescence.
Unicellular fungi

● Unicellular fungi include the yeasts. Fungi are found in most habitats, although most
are found on land

● Yeasts reproduce through mitosis, and many use a process called budding, where most of
the cytoplasm is held by the mother cell

● Saccharomyces cerevisiae ferments carbohydrates into carbon dioxide and alcohol,

and is used in the making of beer and bread

● S. cerevisiae is also an important model organism, since it is a eukaryotic organism

that's easy to grow. It has been used to research cancer and neurodegenerative
diseases as well as to understand the cell cycle
structure of
yeast
Macroscopic unicellular organisms
● Brefeldia maxima, a slime mold,
examples have been reported up
to a centimetre thick with a
surface area of over a square
metre and weighed up to around
20 kg
● Valonia ventricosa, an alga
of the class Chlorophyceae,
can reach a diameter of 1 to
4 cm (0.4 to 2 in)[
● Thiomargarita namibiensis
is the largest bacterium,
reaching a diameter of up
to 0.75 mm
● Xenophyophores, protozoans of the
phylum Foraminifera, are the largest
examples known, with
Syringammina fragilissima
achieving a diameter of up to 20
 Reproduction excretion
The unicellular organisms In unicellular organisms, since
reproduce by binary fission. In they do not have any specialized
this, a single cell divides, giving organs for the removal of waste
rise to two daughter cells. This materials, their wastes are
can be seen in bacteria and removed directly through the cell
amoeba. membrane by the process of
The yeast cells reproduce by the diffusion
process called budding.
Functions of
unicellular
metabolism
Unicellular organisms such as
organisms Respiration
yeast undergo differentiation in
The unicellular organisms
the form of morphological
respire aerobically or
changes, accompanied by
anaerobically. They do not have
metabolic adaptation. These
any respiratory structures for
organisms can sense the amount
respiration. They respire by the
and type of nutrients in the
process of diffusion through the
environment and alter gene
skin surface.
expression patterns to maximize
survival.