Protozoan Evolution and Phylogeny

The study of the evolution and phylogeny of the groups comprising the Protozoa, the so-called lower eukaryotes, serves to elucidate the interrelationships between these, mostly unicellular, forms. They occupy an important ‘gap-bridging’ position on the overall ‘tree of life’ between the more primitive unicellular bacteria (all prokaryotes) and the higher eukaryotes (multicellular plants, fungi, and animals). Keywords: protozoa; microorganisms; evolution; phylogeny; trees of life; cladograms