Why is Chlamydomonas reinhardtii widely used as a model organism?
It is one of the simplest eukaryotes, has a small genome, is easy to genetically manipulate, and is simple to study
Where is Chlamydomonas reinhardtii commonly found and at what temperature?
It is found in freshwater systems at approximately 24–28°C
How does Chlamydomonas reproduce and how often?
It reproduces asexually by binary fission approximately every 10 hours
What are the three phases of the Chlamydomonas growth curve?
Lag phase, exponential phase, and stationary phase
What happens during the lag phase of Chlamydomonas growth?
The cell prepares to divide and adjusts to its environment
What happens during the exponential phase of Chlamydomonas growth?
The cells divide at their maximum rate and population increases rapidly
What happens during the stationary phase of Chlamydomonas growth?
Growth plateaus due to environmental limitations such as nutrient depletion
What are macronutrients and why are they important for Chlamydomonas?
Macronutrients are needed in large amounts for cell energy and structural components
What are micronutrients and why are they important for Chlamydomonas?
Micronutrients are needed in small amounts for metabolic processes and enzyme function.
Why is magnesium important for Chlamydomonas?
It is required for chlorophyll structure, enzyme activation, thylakoid membrane structure, and ATP transfer in photosystem II.
Why is iron important for Chlamydomonas?
It is required for electron transport in photosynthesis and respiration and acts as a cofactor for PSII, PSI, and cytochrome b6f.
Why is phosphorus important for Chlamydomonas?
It is required for phospholipid membranes, DNA and RNA structure, ATP, and phosphorylation signaling
Why is nitrogen important for Chlamydomonas?
It is required for amino acids and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA)
Why is Chlamydomonas considered plant-like but not a plant?
It has a cell wall and chloroplast like plants, but it is classified as algae, not a plant
What do animals, plants, and Chlamydomonas share evolutionarily?
They share a common ancestor that possessed flagella
Why did plants lose flagella while animals and Chlamydomonas retained them?
Plants do not rely on movement for reproduction, while animals and Chlamydomonas use flagella for movement and sensory functions
How do prokaryotic and eukaryotic flagella differ structurally?
Prokaryotic flagella have a hook and rotate, while eukaryotic flagella are membrane extensions with microtubules that wave back and forth
Are prokaryotic and eukaryotic flagella homologous or analogous?
They are analogous structures resulting from convergent evolution.
Why are human and Chlamydomonas flagella considered homologous?
They are similar due to shared common ancestry
What are flagella made of?
Microtubule-protein polymers composed of tubulin subunits
How do flagella generate movement?
Dynein motor proteins walk along microtubules toward the negative end, causing doublets to bend and produce movement.
What are cilia and what is their function?
Cilia are hair-like appendages on eukaryotic cells that function in movement, sensory perception, and moving substances across cell surfaces.
What are ciliopathies?
Diseases caused by mutations in genes involved in cilia structure or function
What are the two types of cilia?
Motile cilia and non-motile (primary) cilia
