You are given an unknown organism to identify. It is unicellular and heterotrophic. It is motile, using many short extensions of the cytoplasm, each featuring the 9 + 2 filament pattern. It has well-developed organelles and three nuclei, one large and two small. This organism is most likely to be a member of which group?
A)foraminiferans
B)radiolarians
C)ciliates
D)kinetoplastids
E)slime moulds

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The description of the organism includes features of ciliates, such as being unicellular and heterotrophic, having motility via many short extensions of the cytoplasm (cilia), and having well-developed organelles. The presence of three nuclei, one large and two small, is also a characteristic of ciliates. Foraminiferans and radiolarians are both unicellular heterotrophic organisms, but they have different types of cytoplasmic extensions and do not typically have multiple nuclei. Kinetoplastids are also unicellular heterotrophs, but they have a different pattern of cytoplasmic filaments and a single, large mitochondrion that contains DNA. Slime molds, on the other hand, are not unicellular and typically form multicellular, slug-like structures during part of their life cycle. Therefore, ciliates are the best choice based on the given description.

You Are Given an Unknown Organism to Identify