Question

How does primary endosymbiosis from more complex organisms?

You are a scientist studying the possibility of life on other planets. You find a planet that has a harsher environment then earth what type of organism Archaea, Bacteria, or Eukaryote would you expect to find there? Why?

Answer 1

Primary endosymbiosis is the process in which a eukaryote engulfs another living prokaryote. An organism may then use that organism to its advantage. If a eukaryotic cell engulfs a photosynthetic alga cell, the larger organism can then use the products of the alga and become an autotrophic organism. But if the larger cell dies the smaller cell may not die and may leave the remains of the old cell to survive. Or if the smaller cell dies then the larger organism can stay alive.

Due to primary endosymbiosis a cell becomes more complex. As we know that we have mitochondria and plastids both are due to primary endosymbiosis.

Secondary endosymbiosis is when a eukaryote cell engulfs another eukaryote cell that has undergone primary endosymbiosis. This process has happened very often through time and has lead to the great genetic diversity we find on earth. The main difference between primary and secondary endosymbiosis that after the cell is engulfed it becomes dependent on the larger cell. It cannot leave and return to its original state.

Archaea will be able to survive in harsh environment as they can withstand harsh climate.

Archae are well known for surviving in harsh climate. Eukaryote and bacteria will not be able to survive. Archae can survive in high temperature, very low temperature, anaerobic conditions etc.