Chapter 18, Problem 1MCQ

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all protists?

1. a. Unicellular
2. b. Cells containing membrane-bounded organelles
3. c. Cells containing a nucleus
4. d. Eukaryotic

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Protists are single celled eukaryotes. A few forms are multicellular. Protists often have cellular organelles and they demonstrate both animal and plant like characteristics. Protists can be heterotrophic or autotrophic.

Answer to Problem 1MCQ

Correct answer:

The protists can be multicellular like algae, kelp or seaweed that feed, provide shelter, and oxygen for numerous underwater ecosystem. Therefore, option a. is correct.

Explanation of Solution

Reason for the correct statement

Protista is a eukaryotic unicellular or multicellular organisms that have membrane bound organelles and nucleus. Protists can be heterotrophic, autotrophic or saprotrophic and divided into three major groups; protozoans, algae, and fungus- like protists.

Option a. is given as “unicellular”.

As, “most of the protists are unicellular, for example Paramecium; some are small multicellular colonies, for example Volvox; and some are large multicellular colonies, for example Kelp”, is the right answer.

Hence, option a. is correct.

Reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option b. is given as “cells containing membrane-bounded organelles”.

Protists are made up of eukaryotic cells and each cell contains the membrane bound organelles. So, it is a wrong answer.

Option c. is given as “cell containing a nucleus”.

Protists are made up of eukaryotic cells, each cell containing nucleus and other organelles. So, it is a wrong answer.

Option d. is given as “eukaryotic”.

Protists are the simplest eukaryotic cell that can be unicellular or multicellular. So, it is a wrong answer.

Hence, options b., c., and d., are incorrect.

Conclusion

Protists are the eukaryotic organisms that include all the eukaryotes except for the plants, fungi, animals.