Which statement about the evolution of the mitochondrion is correct?
A) It originated as a prokaryote that detoxified oxygen.
B) It originated as a prokaryote that could photosynthesize.
C) It was acquired through endosymbiosis of a cyanobacterium by a eukaryote.
D) Its origins can be traced back to an archaean ancestor.
E) It is the result of a secondary endosymbiotic event.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mitochondria are believed to have originated from a symbiotic relationship between an early eukaryotic cell and a prokaryotic cell capable of using oxygen for energy production. This theory is supported by the fact that mitochondria have their own DNA, which is similar to bacterial DNA, and they replicate independently of the cell in which they reside, suggesting an ancestral prokaryotic organism that was adept at detoxifying oxygen.

Which Statement About the Evolution of the Mitochondrion Is Correct