Final answer:
Complexity in eukaryotic cells can be explained by the endosymbiotic theory and gene duplication with divergence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Complexity found in eukaryotic cells can be attributed to two main factors:
- Endosymbiotic theory: Eukaryotic cells are thought to have evolved from the merging of smaller prokaryotic cells. This theory suggests that mitochondria and chloroplasts were once free-living prokaryotes that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells. The merging of these cells allowed for the development of more complex cellular processes.
- Gene duplication and divergence: Eukaryotic cells have multiple copies of genes, which can lead to the development of new functions and structures. Gene duplication provides redundancy, allowing one copy of a gene to continue performing its original function while the other copy evolves and acquires new functions.
Learn more about Factors contributing to the complexity of eukaryotic cells