Question

Comment on how the fossil evidence of early life supports or contradicts the endosymbiotic theory

Answer 1

The endosymbiotic theory supports the idea of the evolution of eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic cells.

It states that the cell organelles especially mitochondria and chloroplast were once the independent prokaryotic cells which went under endosymbiosis with larger cells and gave rise to the eukaryotic cells.

Fossil records also suggested that the young earth was once covered by the mounds of the bacteria or prokaryotic cells.

The atmosphere lacked oxygen and the environment was extreme.

Some became capable of performing photosynthesis which undergoes endosymbiosis with other cells.

It led to the development of the eukaryotic cell.

Thus, fossil record also supports the endosymbiotic theory.

Answer 2

The fossil evidence of early life has contradicted the endosymbiotic theory because the fossil evidences that are provided and even its evidences in the molecular area does not show any match or does not show any connection between the two.