Question

Do plant-like protists move?

Answer 1

Hint: Protists have a diverse number of organisms. They are mostly microscopic, unicellular(consist of single cells). Cells of protists are highly organized with nucleus and specialized cellular machinery known as organelles. Protists are broadly divided into prokaryotes and eukaryotes which can be distinguished by cell complexity.

Complete answer:
Protists comprises prokaryotes and eukaryotes. They can be distinguished from the complexity of cells, eukaryotes are more complex compared to prokaryotes. Bacteria and archaebacteria are prokaryotes while other organisms like protists, fungi, plantae, and animalia are eukaryotes. Majority of all the prokaryotes are unicellular or form colonies consisting of one or more kinds of cells. Protists have all the characteristics of eukaryotic cells which contain all the membrane bound organelle and well defined nucleus.
The characteristic which makes algal protist plants like is ability to do photosynthesis. Similar to plants, plant-like protists also contain chlorophyll which is responsible for photosynthesis, which helps in the conversion of light energy to chemical energy. Algal protists are mainly green in color but they can be red, brown or gold in color. Protists move with the help of cilia, flagella and pseudopodia.
Cilia: Some protists use cilia as their locomotory organs. Tiny hairs flap together to help the organism to locomote through water or other liquid surfaces.
Flagella: Other protists use flagella long tailed whip-like structures for locomotion.
Pseudopodia: Also known as false feet, which extend its part of the cell body to ooze along, are used as locomotory organs.

Note:
Protists comprises very diverse organisms like prokaryotes and eukaryotes. This can be distinguished depending on the complexity of the cell. Eukaryotes are more complicated as compared to prokaryotes, with well defined nuclei and all the membrane bound organelles. Plant-like protists are similar to plants because of their ability to do photosynthesis. Their three locomotory organs are cilia, flagella and pseudopodia.