Bikonts
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota (unranked) Bikonta
Supergroups
Apusozoa Cabozoa    Rhizaria    Excavata Corticata    Archaeplastida    Chromalveolata Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Kingdoms Animalia - Animals Fungi Plantae - Plants Protista Alternative Phylogeny Unikonta    Opisthokonta    Amoebozoa Bikonta    Apusozoa    Cabozoa       Rhizaria       Excavata    Corticata       Archaeplastida       Chromalveolata Animals, plants, fungi, and protists are eukaryotes (IPA: ), organisms with a complex cell or cells, where the genetic material is organized into a membrane-bound nucleus or nuclei. ... Orders Apusomonadida Ancyromonadida Hemimastigida The Apusozoa comprise several genera of flagellate protozoa. ... A Bikont is a eukaryotic cell with two flagella. ... The Rhizaria are a major line of protists. ... This article is about the protist group called excavates. ... The Archaeplastida are a major line of eukaryotes, comprising the land plants, green and red algae, and a small group called the glaucophytes. ... The chromalveolates (Chromalveolata) are a hypothetical grouping of eukaryotes, comprising the Chromista and alveolates, as suggested by Tom Cavalier-Smith. ...

A Bikont is a eukaryotic cell with two flagella, developed by a unique pathway. Another shared, new trait of bikonts is the fusion of two genes into a single unit: the genes for thymidylate synthase (TS) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) encode a single protein with two functions (Cavalier-Smith, 2006). The genes are separately translated in unikonts. Kingdoms Animalia - Animals Fungi Plantae - Plants Protista Alternative Phylogeny Unikonta    Opisthokonta    Amoebozoa Bikonta    Apusozoa    Cabozoa       Rhizaria       Excavata    Corticata       Archaeplastida       Chromalveolata Animals, plants, fungi, and protists are eukaryotes (IPA: ), organisms with a complex cell or cells, where the genetic material is organized into a membrane-bound nucleus or nuclei. ... A flagellum (plural, flagella) is a whip-like organelle that many unicellular organisms, and some multicellular ones, use to move about. ... For other meanings of this term, see gene (disambiguation). ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ...

Some research suggests that a unikont (a eukaryotic cell with a single flagellum) was the ancestor of opisthokonts and Amoebozoa, and a bikont was the ancestor of Archaeplastida, Excavata, Rhizaria, and Chromalveolata. Cavalier-Smith has suggested that Apusozoa, which are typically considered incertae sedis, are in fact bikonts. Subgroups Mycetozoa(slime moulds) Archamoebae    Pelobiontida    Entamoebida Gymnamoebia Various others The Amoebozoa are a major group of amoeboid protozoa, including the majority that move by means of internal cytoplasmic flow. ... The Archaeplastida are a major line of eukaryotes, comprising the land plants, green and red algae, and a small group called the glaucophytes. ... This article is about the protist group called excavates. ... The Rhizaria are a major line of protists. ... Chromalveolates are a hypothetical grouping of eukaryotes, comprising the Chromista and alveolates, suggested by Tom Cavalier-Smith. ... Orders Apusomonadida Ancyromonadida Hemimastigida The Apusozoa comprise several genera of flagellate protozoa. ...

[edit] See also

• Thomas Cavalier-Smith

Thomas Cavalier-Smith is a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Oxford, and is winner of the International Prize for Biology 2004 and one of the most notable researchers concerning the relationships, development, and classification of living things. ...

[edit] References

• Thomas Cavalier-Smith (2006). "Protist phylogeny and the high-level classification of Protozoa". European Journal of Protistology 39 (4): 338-348. 

• Alexandra Stechmann and Thomas Cavalier-Smith (2003). "The root of the eukaryote tree pinpointed". Current Biology 13 (17).