Conflict about classifying Protist?

[stanton]

I was surpriesed to see that several information about protist is not consistent. Let's take a look.

According to my biology lecture note:
If it isn't anything, it is a protist:
Kingdom protists
-not a clade
-not a legitimate taxon



According to the wikipedia

There is still lot of conflict whether protist is a kingdom or domain.

According to an expert(annonymous):

Example:Apicomplexa=
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Chromalveolata
Superphylum: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
excavata, chromalveolata, Rhizaria is kingdom.
------------------

What do you think? Everyone has different opinion how the protist should be classified. What should be preferred theses days? i.e., which one is more trustworthy?

 

[Mattara]

Previously, the highest category of classification of organisms was kingdom. There 'were' five kingdoms: animals, plants, protists, bacteria and fungi. However, this classification was primarily based on things like morphology and when the molecular geneticists looked at it they discovered that these where not supported by the data. The new highest category became domain and the domains are Eukaryota, Archeae and Bacteria (sometimes called Eubacteria to avoid confusing it with the every day term "bacteria", which applies to archeae and bacteria). This was done in an effort to make systematics adhere to the principles of cladistics. Protista is an informal term for a loose grouping of various different phyla that does not fulfill the criteria for a clade (it is paraphyletic). It refers to solitary or undifferentiated colonial eukaryotes. More research is needed to fit these various phyla into monophyletic groups satisfying the criteria for a clade.

 

[quicknote]

I can understand your surprise and confusion regarding the classification of protists. It is not uncommon for there to be conflicting information and opinions in the scientific community, especially when it comes to taxonomy and classification.

Firstly, it is important to note that scientific classification is an ever-evolving and dynamic process. As new research and evidence is discovered, our understanding of organisms and their relationships may change. This can lead to differing opinions and disagreements about how to classify certain groups.

In the case of protists, there has been ongoing debate about whether they should be classified as a kingdom or a domain. While some sources may refer to them as a kingdom, others may consider them a separate domain alongside the traditional domains of bacteria, archaea, and eukarya. Both perspectives are valid, and it ultimately depends on the classification system being used.

In terms of which source is more trustworthy, it is always best to consult multiple reputable sources and consider the evidence and arguments presented by each. It is also important to consider the credentials and expertise of the individuals or organizations presenting the information.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to keep an open mind and be willing to adjust our understanding as new information becomes available. The classification of protists may continue to be a topic of debate, but with continued research and collaboration, we can continue to refine our understanding of these diverse and important organisms.