RealFeedApp Asgards are the closest prokaryotic relatives of eukaryotes
The discovery of Asgard archaea has reshaped understanding of eukaryotic evolution by positioning them as the closest prokaryotic relatives involved in the endosymbiotic event. Their genomes contain numerous eukaryotic signature proteins supporting this view.
- Field
- microbes and viruses
- What they did
- The authors review the discovery of Asgard archaea, which are considered the closest prokaryotic relatives of eukaryotes and a key participant in the formation of the first eukaryotic cell.
- Why it matters
- Understanding the evolutionary connections between prokaryotes and eukaryotes helps explain the origin of complex cellular structures.
#asgard archaea#eukaryote evolution#endosymbiosis#genomics
