Which of the following organelles are thought to have arisen...

Which of the following organelles are thought to have arisen from primitive prokaryotes?
a. endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus
b. Golgi apparatus and lysosomes
c. chloroplasts and mitochondria
d. vacuoles and transport vesicles

Key Concepts

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are crucial organelles responsible for producing ATP through aerobic respiration, serving as the powerhouse of the cell. Their evolutionary origin is explained by the endosymbiotic theory, which suggests that they descended from aerobic bacteria that were incorporated into early eukaryotic cells. The presence of mitochondrial DNA and a double membrane supports this prokaryotic heritage.

Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts are the organelles responsible for photosynthesis in plants and some algae, converting light energy into chemical energy. Like mitochondria, their origin is attributed to an endosymbiotic event, where a photosynthetic cyanobacterium was taken inside a precursor of modern eukaryotic cells. They possess their own DNA, double membranes, and ribosomes similar to those of bacteria, all of which are key pieces of evidence for their prokaryotic ancestry.

Endosymbiotic Theory

The endosymbiotic theory posits that certain organelles in eukaryotic cells, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, originated from free-living prokaryotes that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells. Over time, these engulfed cells formed a mutually beneficial relationship with their host, eventually evolving into integral components of the cell with specialized functions. Evidence supporting this theory includes the presence of their own circular DNA, double-membrane structures, and ribosomes that resemble those found in bacteria.

Please give Ace some feedback