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Breath-giving cooperation: critical review of origin of mitochondria hypotheses Major unanswered questions point to the importance of early ecology

Zachar, István and Szathmáry, Eörs (2017) Breath-giving cooperation: critical review of origin of mitochondria hypotheses Major unanswered questions point to the importance of early ecology. Biology Direct, 12. p. 19. ISSN 1745-6150

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Abstract

The origin of mitochondria is a unique and hard evolutionary problem, embedded within the origin of eukaryotes. The puzzle is challenging due to the egalitarian nature of the transition where lower-level units took over energy metabolism. Contending theories widely disagree on ancestral partners, initial conditions and unfolding of events. There are many open questions but there is no comparative examination of hypotheses. We have specified twelve questions about the observable facts and hidden processes leading to the establishment of the endosymbiont that a valid hypothesis must address. We have objectively compared contending hypotheses under these questions to find the most plausible course of events and to draw insight on missing pieces of the puzzle. Since endosymbiosis borders evolution and ecology, and since a realistic theory has to comply with both domains' constraints, the conclusion is that the most important aspect to clarify is the initial ecological relationship of partners. Metabolic benefits are largely irrelevant at this initial phase, where ecological costs could be more disruptive. There is no single theory capable of answering all questions indicating a severe lack of ecological considerations. A new theory, compliant with recent phylogenomic results, should adhere to these criteria.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: GENOME; COMPLEXITY; PROKARYOTES; HYDROGENOSOMES; ARCHAEA; LIFE-STYLE; ENERGY-METABOLISM; ENDOSYMBIOTIC ORIGIN; eukaryotic cell; Evolutionary origin; Major transition; Parasitism; METABOLISM; EVOLUTION; ECOLOGY; Eukaryogenesis; endosymbiosis; Mitochondria
Subjects: Q Science / természettudomány > QH Natural history / természetrajz > QH301 Biology / biológia
SWORD Depositor: MTMT SWORD
Depositing User: MTMT SWORD
Date Deposited: 29 Nov 2017 12:31
Last Modified: 29 Nov 2017 12:31
URI: http://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/70642

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