๐Ÿฆ microbiology review

key term - Endosymbiotic theory

Definition

Endosymbiotic theory explains how eukaryotic cells evolved from prokaryotic organisms through a symbiotic relationship. It proposes that certain organelles, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, originated as free-living bacteria that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own DNA, which is similar to bacterial DNA.
  2. These organelles replicate independently of the cell they reside in, akin to how bacteria divide.
  3. The double membrane structure of mitochondria and chloroplasts supports the idea they were once independent prokaryotes.
  4. Phylogenetic studies show that mitochondrial DNA is closely related to proteobacteria, while chloroplast DNA is similar to cyanobacteria.
  5. Antibiotics that inhibit bacterial ribosomes also affect ribosomes within mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Review Questions

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