Prokaryotes are not pioneers of eukaryotes

2003/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Biologia

For the first time, scientists have seen an organelle within a prokaryote. So far, scientists considered that prokaryotic cells did not contain organelles to perform special functions, that is, within these unicellular organisms there were no specialized parts separated from the membranes.

(Photo: P. P. Sforza).

In fact, prokaryotes do not contain nuclei containing genetic material. In contrast, eukaryotic cells are more complex and, in addition to the nucleus, contain mitochondria, chloroplasts or other organelles.

But, once again, beliefs have been corrupt and prokaryotes have also seen that they have organelles at the University of Illinois (USA). Its researchers have studied Agrobacterim tumefaciens, a bacterium that causes a disease in many plants and is also used in genetic transformation, making it a well-known bacterium. However, so far they had not realized that they have a pride.

This organelle found in the bacteria helps control the degree of acidity, which also appears in eukaryotes. Therefore, they have come to the conclusion that prokaryotes and eurcariots had the same origin in evolution. Until now, however, eukaryotes were thought to have arisen with the internalization of other prokaryotes.