How might someone distinguish between diplomonads and parabasalids?
A) Diplomonads possess mitochondria, while parabasalids do not.
B) Parabasalids use undulating membranes for locomotion, while diplomonads use only flagella.
C) Only parabasalids have a parasitic lifestyle.
D) Diplomonads are excavates, while parabasalids are not.
E) Parabasalids possess chloroplasts, while diplomonads do not.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Parabasalids use undulating membranes for locomotion, while diplomonads use only flagella. This is one of the main distinguishing features between the two groups. Diplomonads also lack typical mitochondria, while parabasalids have modified mitochondria called hydrogenosomes. However, this is not a definitive way to distinguish between the two groups as some diplomonads have vestigial mitochondria, and some parabasalids have fully functional mitochondria. The other choices are incorrect as they do not accurately distinguish between the two groups.

How Might Someone Distinguish Between Diplomonads and Parabasalids