The Hybrid Nature of the Eukaryota and a Consilient View of Life on Earth

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Microbiol

Specialties Infectious Diseases
Microbiology

Date 2014 May 13

PMID 24814066

Citations 61

Authors

James O McInerney

Mary J OConnell

Davide Pisani

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The origin of the eukaryotic cell, which is known as eukaryogenesis, has puzzled scientists for more than 100 years, and many hypotheses have been proposed. Recent analyses of new data enable the safe elimination of some of these hypotheses, whereas support for other hypotheses has increased. In this Opinion article, we evaluate the available theories for their compatibility with empirical observations and conclude that cellular life consists of two primary, paraphyletic prokaryotic groups and one secondary, monophyletic group that has symbiogenic origins - the eukaryotes.

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