Question

Could you please explain what this is asking of me?:Compare at least two characteristics of mitochondria to prokaryotic cells and explain how this relates to the endosymbiotic theory. - I'm lost at the part of "two characteristics of mitochondria to prokaryotic cells".

Answer 1

Part of the endosymbiotic theory states that the mitochondria found in eukaryotic cells originated from a symbiotic relationship between a prokaryotic cell and a eukaryotic cell. Over time, each cell in this symbiotic relationship lost the ability to survive on its own.

Mitochondria have a remarkable similarity to prokaryotic cells, which supports the endosymbiotic theory. Two examples are as follows:

Mitochondria have their own genome, and the structure of their genome in most organisms is circular, just like prokaryotes.

The inner and outer membrane organization of mitochondria also resembles the membrane structure of gram negative bacteria. Gram negative bacteria have both an outer and inner membrane, which is similar to the outer and inner membrane of mitochondria.