Most scientists subscribe to the theory of endosymbiosis to explain the presence of mitochondria in eukaryotic cells. According to the theory of endosymbiosis, early pre-eukaryotic cells phagocytosed free living prokaryotes, but failed to digest them. As a result, these prokaryotes remained in residence in the pre-eukaryotes, and continued to generate energy. The host cells were able to use this energy to gain a selective advantage over their competitors, and eventually the energy-producing prokaryotes became mitochondria.In many ways, mitochondria are different from other cellular organelles, and these differences puzzled scientists for many years. The theory of endosymbiosis concisely explains a number of these observations about mitochondria. Perhaps most of all, the theory explains why aerobic metabolism is entirely limited to this one organelle, while other kinds of metabolism are more distributed in the cellular cytosol.A scientist is presenting her evidence in support of the theory of endosymbiosis. Which of the following assertions is FALSE?

Correct answer: D. Mitochondria have the full genetic complement of prokaryotes

• A. Mitochondria have their own ribosomes
• B. Mitochondria have a double membrane
• C. Mitochondria have a reduced genome
• D. Mitochondria have the full genetic complement of prokaryotes

Last updated 1 September 2026