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[[Image:Balanditium.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Balantidium coli - trofozoite and cyst - Wikimedia Commons]]

[[Image:Balanditium.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Balantidium coli - trofozoite and cyst - Wikimedia Commons]]

[[Image:Flagella.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Flagella of ''E.coli'' - Nicolle Rager Fuller, National Science Foundation]]

[[Image:Flagella.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Flagella of ''E.coli'' - Nicolle Rager Fuller, National Science Foundation]]

All protozoa are unicellular eukaryotic organisms which store their genetic information in chromosomes in a nuclear envelope. Protozoa are classified depending on their structure and life cycle. This reflects the similarities of the diseases which they cause.

All protozoa are unicellular eukaryotic organisms which store their genetic information in chromosomes in a nuclear envelope. Protozoa are classified depending on their structure and life cycle. This reflects the similarities of the diseases which they cause. Protozoa belong to the Animal Kingdom (rather than the Plant Kingdom) as their obtain their energy through the intake of organic material.

Protozoa usually range from 10μm-50μm but can grow up to 1mm. Thus, they are usually observed and classified using a microscope.

Protozoa usually range from 10μm-50μm but can grow up to 1mm. Thus, they are usually observed and classified using a microscope.

*Motile

*Motile

*Organelles and otehr cellular structures enable the protozoa to lead an '''independent exsistence'''

*Protozoa possess all the 'usual' organelles which are found in most animal cells

**Nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi bodies and lysosomes

 

*Ptotozoa also possess other cellular structures, organelles and sub-cellular structures which enable an '''independent exsistence''' to be led

*Cilia

*Cilia

*Flagellum

*Flagellum

**Contractile fibre

**Contractile fibre arising from a basal body

**Contracts in a whip like motion to propel protozoa

**Contracts in a whip like motion to propel protozoa

**Attached to body of protozoa by an '''undulating membrane'''

**Attached to body of some protozoa by an '''undulating membrane'''

**E.g. ''Trypanosoma''

**E.g. ''Trypanosoma''