Chapter 14, Problem 36A

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

If Darwin was alive, would he have supported the endosymbiont theory or not.

Introduction:

Endosymbiont theory states that some of the organelles in the eukaryotes were the prokaryotic microbes in early evolutionary stages.

Explanation of Solution

Mitochondria and aerobic bacteria both share similar characteristic feature as they both use oxygen in the production of ATP and both uses this by using Kreb’s cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.

Similarly, chloroplasts and photosynthetic bacteria are similar in function as they both have chlorophyll pigment which harnesses light energy and converts it into chemical energy.

The size of mitochondria and chloroplasts are similar to those of bacteria. And as the bacteria have their own DNA, RNA, and ribosomes; similarly mitochondria and chloroplasts also have their own genetic material and ribosomes for protein synthesis.

Conclusion

This concludes that studying and analyzing the DNA sequences of the prokaryotes, with that of chloroplasts and mitochondria, would lead to draw the conclusion that there exhibit the evolutionary relationship among them.