Evolution of the Eukaryotic Cell
1. Introduction The eukaryotic cell is a highly organized cellular system characterized by a membrane-bound nucleus, extensive internal membrane compartments, a dynamic cytoskeleton, and complex mechanisms for genome regulation, intracellular trafficking, energy production, and cell division. Eukaryotes include: The origin of the eukaryotic cell represents one of the major transitions in biological evolution. Unlike a simple linear progression from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, current models suggest that eukaryogenesis involved multiple interacting evolutionary processes, particularly: 2. Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cellular Organization Feature Prokaryotic cells Eukaryotic cells Nucleus Absent Present Nuclear envelope Absent Present Genome Usually circular chromosome(s) Multiple linear chromosomes Histones Present in archaea; variable in bacteriaRead More →

