Question

Dinoflagellates are photosynthetic, they are the great producers of the ocean, phytoplankton. TThier chromosomes lack histones and they have two flagella of unequal lenghts. Some dinoflagellates are bioluminescent and some produce a pigment so that a proliferation of dinoflagellates may cause a 'red tide.' Humans do not directly consume dinoflagellates, but humans consume shellfish that consume dinoflagellates. Shellfish may concentrate certain neurotoxins produced by dinoflagellates and cause neurlogical symptoms in humans who consume those shellfish. Examples of dinoflagellates are Gymnodinium and Gonyaulax.

13. The toxins produced by dinoflagellates are heat stabile, so cooking does not prevent the possibility of shellfish poisoning. Make two recommendations to prevent consumption of dinoflagellate neurotoxins based on what you know, or pose two questions about what you would like to know. Amoebozoa have lobe like pseudopods for motility. Slime molds are classified in this group and will not be covered on any exam. Two examples are Naegleria and Entamoeba, pathogens.

Answer 1

Ans. To prevent shellfish poisinig, these two recommendations an be made:

1). avoiding comsuption of inherently toxic fish, mainly during March to June, since, most of the deaths due to shellfish poising occur from March to June.

2). avoiding home-cooked shellfish food, since neurotoxins present on shellfishes are heat stable. Shellfish foods should be eaten only at a restaurant, because chefs trained in fish cleaning make it after proper toxin removal.

Example of Naegleria pathogen is Naegleria fowleri (causes naegleriasis) and example of Rntamoeba is Entamoeba histolytica (causes amebic dysentery).