Lynn Margulis and the origin of the eukaryotes
Abstract
In 1967 Lynn Margulis (then writing as Lynn Sagan) wrote what has become one of the most influential and important papers ever published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology, and this special issue collects together a series of papers to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her paper. Many of her ideas were controversial, but most scientists today accept her central argument that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated as bacteria that were "captured" by the ancestors of eukaryotic cells. The matter is not completely settled even now, however, and there are still scientists who contest her theory of the origin of eukaryotic cells. In any case, whether one agrees with her or not there is no doubt that her theory has stimulated a great deal of fruitful scientific research.
- Publication:
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Journal of Theoretical Biology
- Pub Date:
- December 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.09.027
- Bibcode:
- 2017JThBi.434....1C