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Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements provides evidence for the endosymbiotic theory?
A
Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus that contains linear DNA.
B
Prokaryotic cells lack membrane-bound organelles.
C
Eukaryotic cells can reproduce through mitosis.
D
Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own circular DNA similar to bacteria.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the endosymbiotic theory: This theory suggests that certain organelles, specifically mitochondria and chloroplasts, originated as free-living bacteria that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells.
Identify the key evidence supporting the endosymbiotic theory: Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own DNA, which is circular and similar to bacterial DNA, indicating a prokaryotic origin.
Compare the DNA structure: Eukaryotic cells typically have linear DNA within a nucleus, whereas mitochondria and chloroplasts have circular DNA, akin to prokaryotes.
Consider the implications of organelle reproduction: Mitochondria and chloroplasts replicate independently of the cell cycle, similar to how bacteria reproduce, further supporting their prokaryotic ancestry.
Evaluate the other statements: The presence of a nucleus, lack of membrane-bound organelles in prokaryotes, and eukaryotic cell reproduction through mitosis do not directly support the endosymbiotic theory.