“Endo” means “internal” or “within.” “Symbiosis” means “a mutually beneficial relationship.” How do modern cells demonstrate endosymbiosis?

Organelles are inside cells and provide cells with energy and proteins, while the cellular membrane shelters the organelles.

Cells benefit from one another by providing different functions and are found within organ systems of the body.

An amoeba-like organism engulfed prokaryotes, and they eventually became cells, one inside the other.

Cells are inside the body and work together to function as a whole organism.

1 answer

The best explanation of how modern cells demonstrate endosymbiosis is:

An amoeba-like organism engulfed prokaryotes, and they eventually became cells, one inside the other.

This explanation accurately describes the theory of endosymbiosis, which posits that certain organelles, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, originated from free-living prokaryotic organisms that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells. Over time, these engulfed prokaryotes formed a symbiotic relationship with the host cell, leading to the development of complex eukaryotic cells with specialized functions. This process highlights the internal relationship (endo) and the mutual benefits (symbiosis) that led to the evolution of modern eukaryotic cells.