How have eukaryotic cells evolved?

Question

Ruby Armstrong · Accepted Answer

Unicellular organisms may have developed from procaryotes to increase metabolic efficiency.

Unicellular organisms have developed from prokaryotes to increase metabolic efficiency.
Eukaryotic cells are more specialised cells within the Protista kingdom. They can be both unicellular and multicellular organisms. They have membrane bound organelles (chloroplast and mitochondria), and a nucleus, which contains long strands of DNA structured in chromosomes.
Some of the simple prokaryotic cells may have engulfed other cells which became internal structures or organelles and evolved into first eukaryotic cells.
The theory has been popularised by L. Margulis. It is now supported by detailed experimental testing.

Piper Anderson · Answer

undefined Over time, eukaryotic cells diversified through mechanisms such as gene duplication, mutation, and natural selection, resulting in the wide variety of eukaryotic organisms seen today. Eukaryotic cells evolved through a process called endosymbiosis, where prokaryotic cells engulfed other prokaryotic cells, leading to the formation of organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts.