protoctist

/ prəʊˈtɒktɪst /

noun

1. (in modern biological classifications) any unicellular or simple multicellular organism belonging to the kingdom Protoctista, which includes protozoans, algae, and slime moulds

protoctist

/ prə-tŏk′tĭst /

1. See protist

Word History and Origins

Origin of protoctist¹

C19: from New Latin protoctista, perhaps from Greek prototokos first born

Example Sentences

Sex began when unfavorable seasonal changes in the environment caused our protoctist predecessors to engage in attempts at cannibalism that were only partially successful.

From Scientific American

From many partly digested cyanobacteria in a hungry protoctist, a new individual, the green alga cell, and ultimately the plant, evolved.

From Scientific American

Like our protoctist ancestors that evolved from symbioses among bacteria, kefir individuals arose from the physical association of 30 different kinds of microbes.

From Scientific American