Eukaryotic cells evolved from prokaryotes.
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Yes, prokaryotes are believed to have evolved before eukaryotes. Eukaryotes likely evolved through a process of endosymbiosis, where prokaryotic cells engulfed other prokaryotic cells to form a symbiotic relationship, leading to the development of cellular organelles.
If prokaryotes evolved in eukaryotes by endosymbiosis, then the prokaryotes must have provided a benefit to the host cell that allowed them to coexist and eventually evolve together. Additionally, evidence of this evolutionary event would likely include the presence of organelles in eukaryotic cells, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, which have their own DNA and replicate independently from the host cell.
Prokaryotes are believed to have appeared around 3.5 billion years ago, while eukaryotes are estimated to have evolved around 1.6 billion years ago. Therefore, prokaryotes are approximately 1.9 billion years older than eukaryotes.
It is believed that autotrophic prokaryotes evolved before heterotrophic prokaryotes. Autotrophic organisms were able to produce their own food (using sunlight or chemicals) before heterotrophic organisms evolved to consume organic matter produced by autotrophs.
Yes, prokaryotes are generally considered to be older than eukaryotes in terms of evolutionary history. Prokaryotes are believed to have appeared on Earth around 3.5 billion years ago, while eukaryotes are thought to have evolved from prokaryotic ancestors around 1.5 billion years ago.