Eukaryotes
Organisms with membrane-bound organelles
Features
Organisms that possess organelles, in particular, a nucleus
Organisms that can be both microscopic and macroscopic
Both unicellular and multicellular forms exist, as well as colonial taxa
Most eukaryotes reproduce sexually, but may also divide asexually
Geologic Age
Paleoproterozoic - present
Evolutionary Clades / Groupings
This group is united by the presence of plastids that are all derived from secondary endosymbiosis with a red alga
This group includes water molds, diatoms, brown algae and dinoflagellates
This group that have a single emergent flagellum, or amoebae with no flagella
This group includes fungi, slime molds, and animals
This group is united by the possession of a plastid derived from endosymbiosis.
This group includes red algae, green algae and plants.
Excavates
A large and diverse grouping that share a similar feeding groove structure (from which the name is derived)
This group includes euglenoids and Giardia
Not covered in Botany 317
Traditional Kingdoms
Animals: A group of unikont (opisthokonts) organisms known as metazoans
Fungi: Another group of unikont (opisthokonts) organisms in the Kingdom Fungi,
Plants: A group of archaeaplastid organisms in the Plantae (or embryophyte) clade
Protists: a polyphyletic collection of organisms that exhibit plant, fungi, and animal characteristics.
Additional Resources
Macroalgae genetics study sheds light on how seaweed became multicellular (Phys.org 12Apr2024)
└Nelson et al. (2024) Macroalgal deep genomics illuminate multiple paths to aquatic, photosynthetic multicellularity
Tree of Life Project
Berkeley Museum Phylogeny Webpage