Kinetoplastea

organism

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

Kinetoplastea is a group of flagellated protozoa that are characterized by the presence of a kinetoplast. The kinetoplast is a DNA-containing organelle found within the mitochondrion, typically located near the basal body of the flagellum. This unique structure is a defining feature of this group, which includes free-living organisms as well as important parasites like trypanosomes. Protozoa, in general, are single-celled eukaryotic organisms that reproduce asexually, most commonly through binary fission, though some species also engage in sexual reproduction under adverse conditions to increase genetic variation.1234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

protozoan
Annotated classification
Kinetoplastea Contain a kinetoplast, a large and distinctive mass of DNA in the mitochondrion. The 2 major groups are the bodontids, which include free-living organisms, and the trypanosomes, a group of well-known parasites. Diplonemea Heterotrophic; in vegetative phase, paraxial rods are absent.
Read More
Kinetoplastea Contain a kinetoplast, a large and distinctive mass of DNA in the mitochondrion. The 2 major groups are the bodontids, which include free-living organisms, and the trypanosomes, a group of well-known parasites. Diplonemea Heterotrophic; in vegetative phase, paraxial rods are absent.
Read More