Eukaryotic origins. 2015

James A Lake
MCDB Biology and Human Genetics, University of California, 232 Boyer Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA lake@mbi.ucla.edu.

The origin of the eukaryotes is a fundamental scientific question that for over 30 years has generated a spirited debate between the competing Archaea (or three domains) tree and the eocyte tree. As eukaryotes ourselves, humans have a personal interest in our origins. Eukaryotes contain their defining organelle, the nucleus, after which they are named. They have a complex evolutionary history, over time acquiring multiple organelles, including mitochondria, chloroplasts, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticula, and other organelles all of which may hint at their origins. It is the evolutionary history of the nucleus and their other organelles that have intrigued molecular evolutionists, myself included, for the past 30 years and which continues to hold our interest as increasingly compelling evidence favours the eocyte tree. As with any orthodoxy, it takes time to embrace new concepts and techniques.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D005057 Eukaryotic Cells Cells of the higher organisms, containing a true nucleus bounded by a nuclear membrane. Cell, Eukaryotic,Cells, Eukaryotic,Eukaryotic Cell
D005075 Biological Evolution The process of cumulative change over successive generations through which organisms acquire their distinguishing morphological and physiological characteristics. Evolution, Biological
D001105 Archaea One of the three domains of life (the others being BACTERIA and Eukarya), formerly called Archaebacteria under the taxon Bacteria, but now considered separate and distinct. They are characterized by: (1) the presence of characteristic tRNAs and ribosomal RNAs; (2) the absence of peptidoglycan cell walls; (3) the presence of ether-linked lipids built from branched-chain subunits; and (4) their occurrence in unusual habitats. While archaea resemble bacteria in morphology and genomic organization, they resemble eukarya in their method of genomic replication. The domain contains at least four kingdoms: CRENARCHAEOTA; EURYARCHAEOTA; NANOARCHAEOTA; and KORARCHAEOTA. Archaebacteria,Archaeobacteria,Archaeon,Archebacteria

Related Publications

James A Lake
October 1994, Science (New York, N.Y.),
James A Lake
April 1992, Biochimica et biophysica acta,
James A Lake
March 2021, Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences,
James A Lake
March 2014, Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology,
James A Lake
September 1980, Nature,
James A Lake
September 2015, Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences,
James A Lake
February 2006, Molecular biology and evolution,
James A Lake
May 2016, Nucleus (Austin, Tex.),
James A Lake
May 2009, Journal of cell science,
Copied contents to your clipboard!