Researchers have found that mitochondria and chloroplasts in eukaryotic cells have their own DNA. This DNA is different from the DNA in a eukaryotic cell's nucleus. Chloroplasts and mitochondria use their own DNA and ribosomes to make some organelle-specific proteins. What statement is best supported by this information?

A.

Modern cells could exist without mitochondria and chloroplasts.

B.

Early eukaryotic cells engulfed prokaryotic cells, which later became mitochondria and chloroplasts.

C.

Early prokaryotic cells engulfed eukaryotic cells, which later became mitochondria and chloroplasts.

D.

Mitochondria and chloroplasts could exist outside of modern cells.

Question

Nathan Ashley

Biology

27 February, 19:54

Researchers have found that mitochondria and chloroplasts in eukaryotic cells have their own DNA. This DNA is different from the DNA in a eukaryotic cell's nucleus. Chloroplasts and mitochondria use their own DNA and ribosomes to make some organelle-specific proteins. What statement is best supported by this information?

A.

Modern cells could exist without mitochondria and chloroplasts.

B.

Early eukaryotic cells engulfed prokaryotic cells, which later became mitochondria and chloroplasts.

C.

Early prokaryotic cells engulfed eukaryotic cells, which later became mitochondria and chloroplasts.

D.

Mitochondria and chloroplasts could exist outside of modern cells.

+4

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Nickolas Sutton · Answer 1

The right answer is B.

The endosymbiotic theory, or the hypothesis of endosymbiosis, is the hypothesis that the chloroplasts and mitochondria of eukaryotic cells arise from the incorporation (endocytosis) by some archaea of bacteria with which they have maintained an endosymbiotic relationship.

Mitochondria and chloroplasts are semi-autonomous organelles of the eukaryotic cell with their own genome and independently of the host cell. These characteristics were the first elements to support the endosymbiotic theory.