United States
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This study draws evidence from the fossil record and from molecular biology to develop and support the theory that complex cells are symbiotic unions of bacterial cells. Bringing together research from disparate fields such as micropalaeontology, molecular biology and symbiosis research, the authors discuss: the evolution of metabolism; the eukaryotic host cell; the evolution of the meiotic cell; the acquisition of mitochondria and plastids; and the controversy over the origin of motility organelles.
In the past twenty-five years, the evolution of eukaryotic cells and the role of symbiosis in this evolution have been exciting areas of scientific research. The authors... show how the fossil record, genetics, and molecular evolution all contribute to the studies of cell evolution. The book gives a balanced account of current controversies in this field. The book includes three appendices: on taxonomy, on the definition of a symbiont, and on the steps of horizontal gene transfer. A great deal of technical scientific detail is clearly presented and well-referenced, with 240 references cited.... Anyone interested in the evolution of eukaryotic cells will find this book very useful. -- "American Biology Teacher"
