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According to the Endosymbiotic Theory, infoldings in the cell membrane of an ancestral prokaryotic cell gave rise to endomembrane components, including the nucleus, endoplasmic
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reticulum, and Golgi apparatus. The Endosymbiotic Theory also suggests that certain organelles, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, originated from free-living prokaryotic cells that were engulfed by an ancestral eukaryotic cell. This symbiotic relationship allowed the engulfed prokaryotes to continue their own processes while providing the host cell with additional functions, such as enhanced energy production in the case of mitochondria and photosynthesis in the case of chloroplasts.
The theory is supported by several lines of evidence, including the presence of double membranes around these organelles, their own circular DNA similar to prokaryotes, and their ability to replicate independently of the host cell's nuclear DNA. Overall, the Endosymbiotic Theory provides a compelling explanation for the origin of eukaryotic cells and the complexity observed in cellular structures today.
The theory is supported by several lines of evidence, including the presence of double membranes around these organelles, their own circular DNA similar to prokaryotes, and their ability to replicate independently of the host cell's nuclear DNA. Overall, the Endosymbiotic Theory provides a compelling explanation for the origin of eukaryotic cells and the complexity observed in cellular structures today.