[Campbell Biology P.643] Which statement best describes the current understanding of protist... | Practice Question

Which statement best describes the current understanding of protist classification?

  • A: Protists are all unicellular organisms belonging to the Kingdom Protista.
  • B: Protists are eukaryotes that are not classified as plants, animals, or fungi, forming several distinct lineages.
  • C: All protists are simple eukaryotes that lack membrane-bound organelles.
  • D: Protists are a monophyletic group, meaning they all share a single common ancestor not shared with other eukaryotes.

Explanation

The text states that the Kingdom Protista has been abandoned and 'various protist lineages are now recognized as major groups in their own right,' and the term 'protist' is used 'only as a convenient way to refer to eukaryotes that are not plants, animals, or fungi.' This indicates they are a diverse collection of distinct eukaryotic lineages, not a single coherent kingdom.