Mitochondria are organelles responsible for producing energy in the form of ATP through cellular respiration, playing a crucial role in cellular metabolism. Evidence suggesting that they descended from free-living prokaryotes includes their own circular DNA, which resembles bacterial genomes, and their double membrane structure, similar to Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, mitochondria replicate independently of the cell cycle, akin to bacterial reproduction, and they possess ribosomes that are more similar to those of prokaryotes than eukaryotes. These characteristics support the endosymbiotic theory, which posits that ancestral eukaryotic cells engulfed these prokaryotic organisms, leading to a symbiotic relationship.
Biochemical analysts use similarities in molecules like DNA, proteins, and enzymes as evidence for evolutionary relationships. The more similarities there are between the molecules of different organisms, the closer their evolutionary relationship is believed to be.
The difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes is primarily that prokaryotes don't have membrane-wrapped organelles, including a cell nucleus containing its genetic material and mitochondria, the organelles that produce most of the eukaryote's supply of ATP, a source of chemical energy for cells. It is thought that organelles like the mitochondria evolved in eukaryotes as a result of endosymbiosis between prokaryotes. A similar origin has been proposed for chloroplasts in algae and plants. This is supported by the fact that these organelles contain their own DNA, and replicate independently from the host cell, as well as by their apparent genetic, morphological and behavioural relationship with various extant prokaryotes.
DNA sequences .
Scientists saw that the membranes of mitochondria and chloroplasts resembled the cell membranes of free-living prokaryotes. This led to two hypotheses. One proposed that mitochondria evolved from endosymbiotic prokaryotes that were able to use oxygen to generate energy rich ATP. The other proposed that chloroplasts evolved from endosymbiotic prokaryotes that had he ability to photosynthesize. Mitochondria and chloroplasts share many features with free-living bacteria, such as there ribosomes have similar size and structure and they reproduce by binary fission. These similarities provide strong evidence of a common ancestry between bacteria and the organelles of living eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotes are much simpler organisms than eukaryotes. It is thought that eukaryotes evolved from prokaryotes. In both cases the evolution process was lengthy and similar to the evolution of other organisms.
Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own DNA.
If prokaryotes evolved in eukaryotes by endosymbiosis, then the prokaryotes must have provided a benefit to the host cell that allowed them to coexist and eventually evolve together. Additionally, evidence of this evolutionary event would likely include the presence of organelles in eukaryotic cells, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, which have their own DNA and replicate independently from the host cell.
...eukaryotic organelles, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts. These organelles have their own DNA, ribosomes, and are similar in size to prokaryotes like bacteria. Additionally, the double membrane structures of mitochondria and chloroplasts resemble what is seen in prokaryotic cells.
The animal kingdom is considered monophyletic, meaning that all animals share a common ancestor and are descended from a single evolutionary lineage. This is supported by genetic and morphological evidence that shows the similarities in their characteristics and evolutionary history.
The endosymbiotic hypothesis postulates that an early eukaryotic cells lacking mitochondria and chloroplasts phagocytosed early aerobic prokaryotes and photosynthetic prokaryotes and rather than
The mitochondria and chloroplasts are used as evidence supporting the endosymbiotic theory. Both organelles have their own circular DNA, replicate independently of the cell, and have a double membrane structure similar to certain prokaryotes.
Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own DNA
The endosymbiotic hypothesis posits that eukaryotic cells originated through symbiotic relationships between different species of prokaryotes, which explains the presence of mitochondria and chloroplasts with their own DNA. Its strength lies in the genetic and structural similarities between these organelles and prokaryotes, providing strong evolutionary support. However, it may struggle to explain the full complexity of eukaryotic cell structures and functions. In contrast, the autogenic hypothesis suggests that eukaryotic cells evolved from prokaryotic ancestors through internal compartmentalization, emphasizing the role of cellular mechanisms. While it accounts for cellular complexity, it lacks the compelling evolutionary evidence seen in the endosymbiotic model.
Various types of evidence, such as fossil records, comparative anatomy, molecular biology (DNA sequencing), and biogeography, all support the theory of common ancestry among organisms. These sources provide clues that organisms share a common evolutionary history and have descended from a common ancestor. Comparing these pieces of evidence across different species helps scientists infer relationships and trace the evolutionary trajectory of life on Earth.
The evidence do scientist use to determine evolutionary relationships by scientist have combined the evidence from DNA, protein structure, fossils, early development, and body structure to determine the evolutionary relationship amoung species.
Personal beliefs and opinions are not a kind of evidence used to support evolutionary theory. Scientific evidence such as fossil records, DNA analysis, and observational data are the main sources of evidence.
The presence of double-membrane structures in mitochondria and chloroplasts similar to bacterial cells supports the theory of endosymbiosis. The existence of circular DNA in mitochondria and chloroplasts, similar to bacterial DNA, provides evidence of their bacterial origin. Phylogenetic studies reveal that the genetic material in mitochondria and chloroplasts is more closely related to certain groups of bacteria than to eukaryotic nuclear DNA, supporting their evolutionary history as once-independent organisms.