Final answer:
Modern eukaryotic cells evolved about 2 billion years ago through a series of steps including membrane proliferation, endosymbiotic events creating mitochondria and chloroplasts, and the development of a cytoskeleton. The widely accepted endosymbiotic theory explains how prokaryotic cells were incorporated and became organelles in the ancestral eukaryotic cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steps Leading to the Evolution of Modern Eukaryotes
The evolution of modern eukaryotic cells is a significant event in the history of life on Earth. According to prevailing scientific theories, modern eukaryotes emerged approximately 2 billion years ago from ancestral prokaryotes. The process involved several key steps:
- Membrane proliferation within prokaryotic ancestors, which increased the complexity of cell structure.
- The loss of a rigid cell wall, allowing for more flexibility and the eventual engulfing of other cells.
- The development of a cytoskeleton, providing structural support and facilitating cell movement.
- The acquisition and evolution of organelles through endosymbiotic events, most notably the incorporation of aerobic bacteria to become mitochondria and photosynthetic bacteria to become chloroplasts.
Endosymbiotic theory is widely supported by the scientific community, suggesting that eukaryotes evolved as large ancestral cells engulfed smaller prokaryotic cells, which then became symbiotic organelles within the host cell.
After the initial development of mitochondria, the evolution of chloroplasts likely followed through further endosymbiotic events. Over time, eukaryotic cells diversified and gave rise to the vast array of multicellular organisms we see today.