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Evolutionary Origin of Organelles

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Illustrated · 1 min

By Michael Li
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Evolutionary Origin of Organelles

One approach to this topic is the endosymbiotic hypothesis. This theory suggests that organelles inside of eukaryotic cells, such as the mitochondria and chloroplasts, originated as independent prokaryotic organisms.

Four panels of chloroplast origin: (a) a eukaryote with a mitochondrion and a photosynthetic cyanobacterium; (b) it engulfs an autotrophic eukaryote without digesting it; (c) keeps it as a symbiont; (d) the symbiont loses genes and becomes a chloroplast.

References:

WordPress

ruf.rice.edu

fossilmuseum.net

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