Symbiogenesis

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Symbiogenesis, also known as the endosymbiotic theory or serial endosymbiotic theory,) is the leading scientific theory for the evolutionary origin of eukaryotes from prokaryotic ancestors. The theory holds that multi-membraned eukaryotic organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts are endosymbionts descended from formerly free-living prokaryotes (more closely related to the Bacteria than to the Archaea) that were phagocytized into another prokaryote's endomembrane system. Mitochondria appear to be phylogenetically related to Alphaproteobacteria such as Rickettsiales, while chloroplasts are thought to be related to beta-cyanobacteria. The idea that chloroplasts were originally independent unicellular organisms that merged into a symbiotic relationship with other unicellular organisms dates back to the 19th century, when it was espoused by researchers such as Andreas Schimper. The endosymbiotic theory was articulated in 1905 and 1910 by the Russian botanist Konstantin Mereschkowski...

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