Question

What 2 protists can reproduce sexually?

Answer 1

Sexual reproduction in protists: Protista are the simple eukaryotic organisms that are unicellular.

1. In protists, sexual reproduction generally involves 2 fundamental processes; meiosis, which reduces the number of chromosomes from 2n to n, and fertilization, or the fusion of two haploid gametes to form a diploid zygote (fertilized egg).
2. There are 2 methods of sexual reproduction:
   1. Syngamy: It is the complete fusion of 2 gametes to produce diploid zygotes. Syngamy is of 3 types:
      1. Isogamy (2 fusing gametes are similar e.g., Monocystis);
      2. Anisogamy (2 fusing gametes are dissimilar, e.g., Ceratium)
      3. Oogamy (large non-motile gametes are fertilized by the smaller motile gametes, e.g., Plasmodium).
   2. Conjugation: It is a temporary union of 2 individuals to exchange their haploid pronuclei to form a zygote nucleus. Each individual with a zygote nucleus also produces daughter individuals by process of binary fission. It occurs in the Paramecium.