Abstract
A symbiosis-based phylogeny leads to a consistent, useful classification system for all life. "Kingdoms" and "Domains" are replaced by biological names for the most inclusive taxa: Prokarya (bacteria) and Eukarya (symbiosis-derived nucleated organisms). The earliest Eukarya, anaerobic mastigotes, hypothetically originated from permanent whole-cell fusion between members of Archaea (e.g., Thermoplasma-like organisms) and of Eubacteria (e.g., Spirochaeta-like organisms). Molecular biology, life-history, and fossil record evidence support the reunification of bacteria as Prokarya while subdividing Eukarya into uniquely defined subtaxa: Protoctista, Animalia, Fungi, and Plantae.
Keywords
ArchaeaBiologyTree of life (biology)PhylogeneticsPhylogenetic treeThree-domain systemPhylogenetic nomenclatureEvolutionary biologyBacteriaEcologyGeneticsCladeGene
MeSH Terms
AnimalsArchaeaBacteriaEukaryotaFungiPhylogenyPlantsSpirochaetaThermoplasma
Affiliated Institutions
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1996
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 93
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 1071-1076
- Citations
- 354
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Lynn Margulis
(1996).
Archaeal-eubacterial mergers in the origin of Eukarya: phylogenetic classification of life..
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
, 93
(3)
, 1071-1076.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.93.3.1071
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1073/pnas.93.3.1071
- PMID
- 8577716
- PMCID
- PMC40032