How did early eukaryotes use endosymbiosis to survive?

Answer 1

Well, honey, early eukaryotes were like, "Hey, I need some help here!" So, they decided to cozy up to some prokaryotes and formed a little partnership called endosymbiosis. The prokaryotes brought their A-game with energy production, and the eukaryotes were like, "Thanks, now we can thrive and evolve into the fabulous creatures we are today." And that's how they rolled and survived, darling.

Answer 2

Dr. Lynn Margolis proposed that some organelles may at one point have been free living (i.e. mitochondria) and found it more beneficial to be within a larger cell for their survival. The mitochondria would find protection and a supply of the nutrients they need while the larger cell would now have a source of energy, thus improving both.

Answer 3

Early eukaryotes likely used endosymbiosis as a way to gain access to new metabolic pathways and resources, providing a survival advantage. By engulfing prokaryotic cells that eventually became mitochondria and chloroplasts, early eukaryotes were able to benefit from their energy-producing and photosynthetic abilities. This mutualistic relationship enabled early eukaryotes to thrive in diverse environments.