Milestones in Biology 1: Test Your Knowledge

What is the function of mitochondria? Of chloroplasts?

What evidence did Margulis present to support her hypothesis that organelles had once been free-living prokaryotic organisms?

On the basis of DNA sequence analysis,

a. which bacteria are likely the closest relatives of the chloroplast?

b. which bacteria are likely the closest relatives of the mitochondria?

The endosymbiosis in human cells involves

a. a mutually beneficial relationship.

b. the growth of bacteria in our gut.

c. an organelle derived from a photosynthetic bacterium.

d. a parasitic bacterium infecting our cells during embryonic development.

e. all of the above

From what you have read here about endosymbiosis:

a. Could you live without your endosymbiotic organelles? Why or why not?

b. Could you live if plants did not have their endosymbiotic organelles? Explain your answer.