Preface

Part 1. Origin of the eukaryotic cell

• Reminder of the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
  • The prokaryotic cell
  • The eukaryotic cell
• In the footsteps of an intermediary between prokaryotes and eukaryotes
  • Prokaryotes with a nucleus?
  • Eukaryotes without organelles?
• What traces has the past left us?
  • Fossils
  • Chemical markers
  • Genomic signatures
• Some theories to explain the origin of the eukaryotic cell
  • Theories of independent origins
  • Simplification or complexity
  • Theories of fusion and endosymbiosis
• Major events marking the evolution of eukaryotes
  • Mitochondria
  • Plastids
  • Symbiosis and its role in the evolution of eukaryotes
  • Multicellularity

Part 2. Diversity of the eukaryotic domain

• A brief history of the classification of living organisms
  • Different attempts at classification
  • Some definitions
• Towards an estimate of the diversity of eukaryotic protists
  • Difficulty of the notion of species in eukaryotic protists
  • Methods for estimating the diversity of eukaryotic protists
  • Cosmopolitanism and endemism
• Methods for classifying organisms
  • Convergent and regressive evolution
  • Molecular phylogenies - successes and setbacks
  • An overview of the diversity of eukaryotes
• The phylogenetic classification of eukaryotes
  • Amorphea
  • Opisthokonta
  • Holozoa
  • Holomycota
  • Eumycota
  • Ascomycota
  • Basidiomycota
  • Amoebozoa
  • Excavata
  • Diaphoretickes
  • Archaeplastida
  • Hacrobia
  • Stramenopila
  • Ochrophyta
  • Alveolata
  • Rhizaria
  • Conclusion - a look back at the evolution of eukaryotes

Part 3 - Importance of eukaryotic protists

• Roles of eukaryotic protists in the biosphere
  • Biotopes on the scale of eukaryotic microbes
  • Global carbon cycle
  • Marine ecosystems
  • Terrestrial ecosystems
  • Nitrogen cycle and other geochemical cycles
  • Conclusions
• Interactions of protists with human societies
  • Roles in food
  • Role in the pharmaceutical industry - secondary metabolites
  • Some uses of eukaryotic protists in other industries
  • Parasites of humans, pets and livestock
  • Parasites of plants and other eukaryotes
  • Damage to buildings, art objects and other structures

Appendix

• Reports
• Student Organismal Profiles