Multiple Choice
Which of the following pieces of evidence supports the endosymbiotic theory that mitochondria are of prokaryotic origin?
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5. Cell Components
Endosymbiotic Theory
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What does the endosymbiotic theory explain?
A
The mechanism of protein synthesis in ribosomes
B
The evolution of multicellular organisms from unicellular ancestors
C
The process of photosynthesis in plants
D
The origin of eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic organisms
Verified step by step guidance1
The endosymbiotic theory is a scientific theory that explains the origin of eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic organisms.
According to this theory, certain organelles within eukaryotic cells, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, originated as free-living bacteria that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells.
These engulfed bacteria formed a symbiotic relationship with the host cell, providing it with additional capabilities, such as energy production in the case of mitochondria and photosynthesis in the case of chloroplasts.
Over time, these bacteria became integral parts of the eukaryotic cell, losing their independence and transferring some of their genetic material to the host cell's nucleus.
This theory is supported by evidence such as the presence of double membranes around mitochondria and chloroplasts, their own circular DNA similar to bacterial DNA, and their ability to replicate independently within the cell.
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