Eukaryote Evolution: Symbiosis & Beyond

[chalky]

hello
i'm new here and looking for some help with my assignment.
i am currently working on an assignment about how the eukaryote evolved from the prokaryote, currently i have come across only one theory which is symbiosis, i need to find several theories and was wondering if anyone here had heard of any others.
help would be greatly appreciated as biology is not my strong point!
thanks to anyone who can help

 

[iansmith]

One of the newer theory is that eukaryotes did not evolve from prokaryotes and started to develop on their and eventually formed symbiosis.

You may want to check the following articles
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/99/13/8742
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7091/full/441289a.html
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/312/5776/1011
http://scienceblogs.com/aetiology/2006/05/are_we_teaching_a_wrong_idea.php[/URL]

 

[Blueshift5]

Hello and welcome! Eukaryote evolution is a fascinating topic and I'm happy to help with your assignment. Yes, symbiosis is one of the most widely accepted theories for the evolution of eukaryotes, specifically through endosymbiosis where one prokaryotic cell engulfs another and they form a symbiotic relationship. However, there are also other theories that have been proposed, such as autogenous evolution where eukaryotes evolved from within prokaryotic cells through internal membrane formation, and viral infection where viruses played a role in transferring genetic material between cells. Additionally, there is evidence for a combination of these theories and other factors such as horizontal gene transfer and environmental pressures. It's important to consider all of these theories and their supporting evidence in order to fully understand the complex process of eukaryote evolution. I hope this helps and good luck with your assignment!