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Mitochondrial clock: moderating evolution of early eukaryotes in light of the Proterozoic oceans

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 May 2017

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Abstract

Evolution of early eukaryotes in the primitive Eartli relied lieavily on the origin and evolution of mitochondria. Understanding the structure and origin of mitochondria has a germane relation to understanding origin and evolution of eukaryotes. In light of the extreme conditions and the then existing Proterozoic ocean chemistry, eukaryotic cells developed adaptive adjustments for energy management. Apart from mitochondria, more reduced homologues like hydrogenosomes and mitosomes facilitated the metabolic activities of such eukaryotic life. In this short review, I highlight the importance of mitochondria in pushing eukaryotes to the peak of the evolutionary pyramid. Our knowledge has expanded but studying recent eukaryotic extremophiles and mitochondrial genomics in more details will enable us to estimate the position of the mitochondrial clock, understand its role better, and possibly find new eukaryotic lineages.

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Change history

  • 30 December 2017

    Due to a misunderstanding caused by the author, Dr. Shamik Dasgupta, the name of the co-author, Dr. Jiasong Fang (who has been acknowledged in the manuscript), was omitted in the original publication. The correct authorship of this article is below.

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  1. Deep Sea Science Division, Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, 572000, Hainan, People’s Republic of China

    Shamik Dasgupta

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Dasgupta, S. Mitochondrial clock: moderating evolution of early eukaryotes in light of the Proterozoic oceans. Biologia 71, 843–852 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1515/biolog-2016-0117

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