Editing Flagellate (section)

== Form and behavior ==
[[Flagella]] in eukaryotes are supported by [[microtubule]]s in a characteristic arrangement, with nine fused pairs surrounding two central singlets. These arise from a [[basal body]]. In some flagellates, flagella direct food into a [[cytostome]] or mouth, where food is [[Ingestion|ingested]]. Flagella role in classifying [[eukaryote]]s.

Among [[protoctist]]s and [[microscopic animals]], a flagellate is an organism with one or more flagella. Some cells in other [[animal]]s may be flagellate, for instance the [[spermatozoa]] of most animal phyla. Flowering plants do not produce flagellate cells, but [[fern]]s, [[Bryophyte|mosses]], [[green algae]], and some [[gymnosperm]]s and closely related plants do so.<ref>Philip E. Pack, Ph.D., Cliff's Notes: AP Biology 4th edition.</ref> Likewise, most fungi do not produce cells with flagellae, but the primitive fungal [[chytrids]] do.<ref name="Hibbett2007">{{cite journal | last1 = Hibbett | display-authors = etal | year = 2007 | title = A higher-level phylogenetic classification of the Fungi | journal = Mycologia | volume = 111 | issue = 5 | pages = 509–547 | pmid = 17572334 | doi = 10.1016/j.mycres.2007.03.004 | s2cid = 4686378 }}</ref> Many protists take the form of single-celled flagellates.

Flagella are generally used for [[propulsion]]. They may also be used to create a current that brings in food.  In most such organisms, one or more flagella are located at or near the anterior of the cell (e.g., ''[[Euglena]]''). Often there is one directed forwards and one trailing behind. Many parasites that affect human health or economy are flagellates in at least one stage of life cycle, such as ''[[Naegleria]]'', ''[[Trichomonas]]'' and ''[[Plasmodium]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Dash |first1=Manoswini |last2=Sachdeva |first2=Sherry |last3=Bansal |first3=Abhisheka |last4=Sinha |first4=Abhinav |date=2022-06-15 |title=Gametogenesis in Plasmodium: Delving Deeper to Connect the Dots |journal=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |volume=12 |pages=877907 |doi=10.3389/fcimb.2022.877907 |doi-access=free |issn=2235-2988 |pmc=9241518 |pmid=35782151}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sparagano |first1=O. |last2=Drouet |first2=E. |last3=Brebant |first3=R. |last4=Manet |first4=E. |last5=Denoyel |first5=G. A. |last6=Pernin |first6=P. |title=Use of monoclonal antibodies to distinguish pathogenic Naegleria fowleri (cysts, trophozoites, or flagellate forms) from other Naegleria species |date=1993 |journal=Journal of Clinical Microbiology |volume=31 |issue=10 |pages=2758–2763 |doi=10.1128/jcm.31.10.2758-2763.1993 |issn=0095-1137 |pmid=8253977|pmc=266008 }}</ref> Flagellates are the major consumers of primary and secondary production in [[aquatic ecosystem]]s - consuming bacteria and other protists.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}[[Image:Flagellata 1.png|thumb|"Flagellata" from [[Encyclopædia Britannica]]]]