Ciliate
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Protistology is the scientific study of protists, which are a diverse group of microorganisms. Protists are typically single-celled or simple multicellular organisms that don't fit into other biological classifications such as plants, animals, or fungi. They can be found in various environments, including aquatic ecosystems, soil, and within other organisms as symbionts or parasites. Despite their small size, Protists play a major role in regulating the Earth's climate, as they are important in processes such as carbon sequestration and the production of greenhouse gases.
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What you can see in this abstract drawing is a so called “Ciliate” which is a type of protist. I started working on this project in September 2022 and finished it 8 months later in May 2023. Ciliates are a diverse group of single-celled organisms characterized by the presence of hair-like structures called cilia on their surface. These cilia are used for locomotion, creating water currents for feeding, and capturing food particles. The particles are swept into an oral groove and then into a specialized feeding structure. They have complex internal structures, including a well-defined nucleus (containing genetic material) and other specialized organelles.