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What evidence supports an endosymbiotic origin?

Several independent lines of evidence can support an organelle-origin hypothesis more strongly than resemblance alone.

Biology & evolutionThinker · Selected readingBeginner friendly
Background and goal

No prior study required. Read the assigned passage; the route is an introduction, not a survey of the whole subject.

Organise three kinds of evidence for mitochondria’s bacterial ancestry and distinguish them from a broader claim about all evolutionary novelty.

Your pathway

4 steps · 3 hours
  1. 01

    Begin in fifteen minutes

    0.25h · week 1
    Reading notes and task
    First fifteen minutesWrite your initial answer to “What evidence supports an endosymbiotic origin?” in three sentences. Keep it to compare with your final answer.
    Your outputThree-sentence starting answer
  2. 02

    Read the argument

    1h · week 1
    Endosymbiosis: Lynn Margulis

    Understanding Evolution, University of California, Berkeley · reference

    Opening overview and the first section that addresses the pathway question. Stop after 30–45 minutes; this is selected reading.

    Free full text

    Open the reading
    Reading notes and task

    Endosymbiosis: Lynn Margulis. Endosymbiosis and the evolutionary importance of relationships among organisms. Compare the evidence for organelle origins with wider claims about symbiosis.

    Try thisRead Opening overview and the first section that addresses the pathway question. Stop after 30–45 minutes; this is selected reading.. Mark one claim, its reason and a passage you do not yet understand.
    Your outputAnnotated argument
    Check your understanding

    Answer this question in your own words: What evidence supports an endosymbiotic origin?

    Hint

    Name the claim, then explain why a reader might accept it.

    Compare with an example answer

    Several independent lines of evidence can support an organelle-origin hypothesis more strongly than resemblance alone.

    What to look for

    • States a claim that addresses the question
    • Connects the claim to a passage or observation
    • Separates the author’s argument from personal agreement

    Common mistake: Summarising a biography instead of explaining the argument.

    Start this pathway to keep your answers in My learning.

  3. 03

    Try the idea

    1h · week 1
    Reading notes and task
    Try thisOrganise three kinds of evidence for mitochondria’s bacterial ancestry and distinguish them from a broader claim about all evolutionary novelty.
    Your outputWorked example
    Check your understanding

    What would make your activity a convincing example?

    Hint

    Organise three kinds of evidence for mitochondria’s bacterial ancestry and distinguish them from a broader claim about all evolutionary novelty.

    Compare with an example answer

    A useful response carries out the task: Organise three kinds of evidence for mitochondria’s bacterial ancestry and distinguish them from a broader claim about all evolutionary novelty. It records the observation or passage used and explains how it bears on the question.

    What to look for

    • Completes the specific task
    • Shows evidence or reasoning rather than only a conclusion
    • Identifies an alternative explanation or reading

    Common mistake: Presenting an opinion without showing the example it rests on.

    Start this pathway to keep your answers in My learning.

  4. 04

    Explain what changed

    0.75h · week 1
    Reading notes and task
    Try thisRevise your initial answer. Include one passage, one reason and one limit: Evidence for one endosymbiotic event does not establish every historical proposal associated with symbiosis.
    Your outputRevised answer with a reading reference
    Check your understanding

    What is one conclusion this reading does not establish?

    Hint

    Test the boundary: Evidence for one endosymbiotic event does not establish every historical proposal associated with symbiosis.

    Compare with an example answer

    Evidence for one endosymbiotic event does not establish every historical proposal associated with symbiosis.

    What to look for

    • States a specific limit
    • Explains why the reading does not warrant the stronger conclusion
    • Distinguishes a limitation from dismissing the work

    Common mistake: Treating a useful interpretation as an unrestricted fact.

    Start this pathway to keep your answers in My learning.

All 1 resources

Background, different viewpoints, and further reading.

  • Endosymbiosis: Lynn Margulis

    Understanding Evolution, University of California, Berkeleyreferencecore

    Endosymbiosis and the evolutionary importance of relationships among organisms. Compare the evidence for organelle origins with wider claims about symbiosis.

    Opening overview and the first section that addresses the pathway question. Stop after 30–45 minutes; this is selected reading.

Continue learning

  • Study Lynn Margulis

    Introduces the question and vocabulary used in the longer selected reading.

    Biology & evolutionSome background