Question

Chloe reads at approximately 2 billion years ago, chloroplast develop from photosynthesizing bacteria that were ingested, or taken into, eukaryotic cells. What does this information most illustrate about the evolution of life on earth?

Answer 1

The development of chloroplasts from photosynthesizing bacteria ingested by eukaryotic cells exemplifies the endosymbiotic theory, which describes a vital phase in the evolution of complex life from simpler prokaryotic ancestors.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process referred to in the question is an excellent illustration of the endosymbiotic theory, which is a scientific explanation for the evolution of eukaryotic cells. About 2 billion years ago, simple eukaryotic cells likely ingested photosynthesizing bacteria in a symbiotic relationship. Over time, these bacteria became an integral part of the cell, evolving into chloroplasts, the organelles responsible for photosynthesis in plants and algae.

This event is a critical milestone in the history of life on Earth, supporting the idea that complex cells, and eventually multicellular organisms, evolved from simpler organisms through a process of symbiotic assimilation. Before the advent of eukaryotic cells with chloroplasts, the Earth was dominated by prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria and archaea, for billions of years.

The fossil record and genetic evidence corroborate this view, showing that prokaryotic cells capable of photosynthesis, like cyanobacteria, were among the first to release oxygen into the atmosphere, setting the stage for the development of oxygen-using eukaryotic cells. The presence of stromatolites in the fossil record gives us tangible evidence of these early life forms and their photosynthetic activities.