From Prokaryotes to Eukaryotes Via Endosybiosis

Josie Fumo and Anneliese Camrud

Endosymbiosic Theory

The endosymbiosis theory is based on symbiosis. In symbiosis, two organisms work and live together bettering themselves. If an organisms lives inside another organism, it is called endosymbiosis. In the theory, one cell engulfs another cell and creates a double membrane. In endosymbiosis, one cell is able to enter another cell without going though its membrane. The cells plasma membrane creates an opening for the other cell to enter and then locks back together trapping in the foreign organism. Because of this, an intracellular vesicle is created. The theory suggests that chloroplasts and mitochondria were made in this way. The inner structure of theses two organisms evolved together and now chloroplasts and mitochondria can’t survive when not in a cell.

Prokaryotes to Eukaryotes

Originally, all life on Earth was basic and single-celled and they were known as prokaryotes. Those cells, through the process of endosymbiosis, would join with the other cells it consumed and they because co-dependent. The individual DNA of the cells would change and morph over time as different strands and sequences were joined together. Once they join with other cells, they can no longer be called prokaryotes and so they go by the name of eukaryotes. They eventually became more and more complex and had a distinct identity based on what DNA they had. The eukaryotes would then reproduce, creating organisms with similar DNA. These groups became the first animals and plants, as we know them today, to inhabit the Earth.

References:


Genetic Science Learning Center (2014, June 22) The Evolution of the Cell.
Learn.Genetics. Retrieved September 23, 2014, from
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/cells/organelles

Lye, B. (n.d.). The Endosymbiotic Theory. Retrieved September 23, 2014, from
http://biology.kenyon.edu/HHMI/Biol113/the%20endosymbiotic%20theory.htm

Palmer, J. (2014). From prokaryotes to eukaryotes (J. Scotchmoore & A. Thanukos,
Ed.). Retrieved September 18, 2014, from Understanding Evolution: your
one-step source to information evolution website:
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/_0/endosymbiosis_03