Living Small
sume that Figure 28.1 depicts six prokaryotes and one much larger eukaryote.
But in fact, the only prokaryote is the organism immediately above the scale bar.
The other six organisms are members of diverse, mostly unicellular groups of
eukaryotes informally known as protists. These very small eukaryotes have in-
trigued biologists for more than 3oo years, ever since the Dutch scientist Antoni
van Leeuwenhoek Erst laid eyes on them under a light microscope. some protists
change their forms as they creep along using blob-like appendages, while
others resemble tiny trumpets or miniature jewelry. Recalling his observations,
van Leeuwenhoek wrote,"No more pleasant sight has met my eye than this, of so
many thousands of living creatures in one small drop of water,"
The protists that fascinated van Leeuwenhoek continue to surprise us today.
Metagenomic studies have revealed a treasure trove of previously unknown protists
within the world of microscopic life. Many of these newly discovered oqganisms are
just 0,5-2 pm in diameter-as smali as many prokaryotes. Genetic and morpho-
logical studies have also sown that some protists are more closely re-
lated to olants fungi or animals than they are to other protists. As
Living Small sume that Figure 28.1 depicts six prokaryotes and one much larger eukaryote. But in fact, the only prokaryote is the organism immediately above the scale bar. The other six organisms are members of diverse, mostly unicellular groups of eukaryotes informally known as protists. These very small eukaryotes have in- trigued biologists for more than 3oo years, ever since the Dutch scientist Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Erst laid eyes on them under a light microscope. some protists change their forms as they creep along using blob-like appendages, while others resemble tiny trumpets or miniature jewelry. Recalling his observations, van Leeuwenhoek wrote,"No more pleasant sight has met my eye than this, of so many thousands of living creatures in one small drop of water," The protists that fascinated van Leeuwenhoek continue to surprise us today. Metagenomic studies have revealed a treasure trove of previously unknown protists within the world of microscopic life. Many of these newly discovered oqganisms are just 0,5-2 pm in diameter-as smali as many prokaryotes. Genetic and morpho- logical studies have also sown that some protists are more closely re- lated to olants fungi or animals than they are to other protists. As
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