Protozoa: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from Greek, where 'proto' means first and 'zoa' means animals, reflecting their status as some of the earliest forms of life.
• The term was first used in the early 19th century as scientists began to study and classify microscopic life.

Science

• Protozoa are part of the kingdom Protista, which also includes algae and slime molds.
• Some protozoa can reproduce rapidly through binary fission, allowing their populations to explode under favorable conditions.
• They can be classified into different categories based on their movement, such as flagellates, amoeboids, and ciliates.

Health

• Certain protozoa can cause diseases in humans, such as malaria, which is transmitted by mosquito bites.
• Some protozoa play essential roles in ecosystems, acting as both predators of bacteria and a source of food for larger organisms.

Habitat

• They are found in a variety of environments, including freshwater, saltwater, and even in the soil.
• These organisms thrive in moist conditions, often in ponds, streams, and damp soil, where they contribute to nutrient cycles.

Pop Culture

• Protozoa have inspired scientific exploration and are often featured in documentaries about life's microscopic world.
• In some video games, microscopic organisms, including protozoa, serve as characters or obstacles in a larger adventure.

Positioned at #21,110, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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• 21107 capacious
• 21108 mossy
• 21109 inappropriately
• 21110 protozoa
• 21111 absolve
• 21112 viola
• 21113 nightingale
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