Which organism is a ciliate?

Which organism is a ciliate?

• A. Balantidium coli
• B. Giardia lamblia
• C. Chilomastix mesnili
• D. Trichomonas hominis

Answer: (A)

Ciliates are protozoa that move with many short hair-like structures called cilia and usually have two types of nuclei. Balantidium coli fits this pattern because it is covered with cilia on its surface to aid movement and feeding, and it shows the distinctive nuclear arrangement of ciliates (a larger macronucleus with a smaller micronucleus). The other organisms listed are flagellates; they move using long flagella rather than a coat of cilia and do not exhibit the same nuclear setup. Giardia lamblia, Chilomastix mesnili, and Trichomonas hominis rely on flagella for locomotion. So, Balantidium coli is the ciliate.

Ciliates are protozoa that move with many short hair-like structures called cilia and usually have two types of nuclei. Balantidium coli fits this pattern because it is covered with cilia on its surface to aid movement and feeding, and it shows the distinctive nuclear arrangement of ciliates (a larger macronucleus with a smaller micronucleus). The other organisms listed are flagellates; they move using long flagella rather than a coat of cilia and do not exhibit the same nuclear setup. Giardia lamblia, Chilomastix mesnili, and Trichomonas hominis rely on flagella for locomotion. So, Balantidium coli is the ciliate.