Question

Describe the ancestral cell that likely engulfed the aerobic bacteria that gave rise to mitochondria and explain why this event is thought to have preceded the acquisition of chloroplasts.

Answer 1

The ancestral eukaryote likely incorporated aerobically metabolizing bacteria, leading to the evolution of eukaryotic cells with mitochondria. This event preceded the acquisition of chloroplasts.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ancestral eukaryote that engulfed aerobic bacteria likely had an early stage of incorporating aerobically metabolizing bacteria. This event led to the evolution of eukaryotic cells with mitochondria. The acquisition of mitochondria is thought to have preceded the acquisition of chloroplasts because mitochondria were necessary for cellular respiration, providing energy for the cell, while chloroplasts allowed for photosynthesis, which required a stable energy source.