Question

What is the significance of the gene and protein differences found between Volvox and Chlamydamonas? (e.g., which proteins? what kind of difference?)

How do mitochondria enable eukaryotes to reach a level of genetic complexity unattainable by prokaryotes?

Describe how the legume-bacteria relationship (symbiosome) compares to our classical view of organelle formation (i.e., mitochondria and plastids). What is similar? What is missing?

Answer 1

Question

1. Chlamydomonas are unicellular green algae whereas volvox are multicellular algae. So, there are differences in the gene and protein present in both algae. The major differences in the genes and proteins between two are:

I. Volvox has more genes that code for cell wall/ECM proteins.

II. Volvox have different developmental genes or proteins that control the growth and development of volvox and chlamydomonas.

2. The mitochondria is the organelle which was absent in the prokaryotes. The mitochondria function is to generate energy rich compound called as ATP. At the same time, mitochondria have their own DNA that have also some genes that encode for some specific proteins that increases the complexity of eukaryotic organism. The mitochondria genes are also pass from one genertion to others by female organism.

3. Legume-bacteria relatioship is a symbiosis relationship that indicate both the organism are benefitted from each other. In this case, bacteria get the place to live in the roots of legume plant and in return, bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable form so that plants could get nitrogen. Similarly, organelle like mitochondria and chloroplast are belive to form by endosymbiosis theory that say when eukaryote cell engulf prokaryotic cell, it lead to the formation of chloroplast and mitochondria. Therefore, this event also benefitted in term of formation of eukaryotic cell. Similarity between two is that both are benefitted from each other in these two events and difference is that in legume-bacteria relationship , none organism engulf each other but in second event, eukaryotic cell enguldlf prokaryotic cell.