Open AccessEvolution of the hydrogenosome
Author(s) -
Biagini Giancarlo A.,
Finlay Bland J.,
Lloyd David
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1997.tb13869.x
Subject(s) - polyphyly , biology , evolutionism , organelle , evolutionary biology , mitochondrion , phylogenetics , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene , clade
Since its discovery almost 25 years ago the enigmatic hydrogenosome, a redox organelle of anaerobic unicellular eukaryotes, has puzzled evolutionists as to its origin and function. Synthesis of recent molecular, physiological and morphological studies now favours the hypothesis that hydrogenosomes derived from a modification of pre‐existing mitochondria, and argues against the previously held view that the hydrogenosome had a polyphyletic origin. These data provide evidence for a more ancient origin of mitochondria than hitherto thought.