The origin of the eukaryotic cell

Molecular sequence data are beginning to provide important insights into the evolutionary origin of eukaryotic cells. Global phylogenies of numerous protein sequences indicate that the eukaryotic cell nucleus is a chimera, which has received major contributions from both a Gram-negative eubacterium and an archaebacterium. Recent studies also indicate that the formation of the nuclear envelope and the endoplasmic reticulum was accompanied by …