Genetics: Analysis and Principles 5th Edition by Robert Brooker

Exercise 17

According to the endosymbiosis theory, mitochondria and chloroplasts are derived from bacteria that took up residence within eukaryotic cells. At one time, prior to being taken up by eukaryotic cells, these bacteria were free-living organisms. However, we cannot take a mitochondrion or chloroplast out of a living eukaryotic cell and get it to survive and replicate on its own. Discuss why not.