Origin of cells, endosymbiosis and comparative genomics as evidence for evolution

What this note covers

1. Shared cellular features frame questions about early life
2. RNA and membranes are components of early-cell models
3. Prokaryotic evidence predates eukaryotic cells
4. Endosymbiosis explains key eukaryotic organelles
5. Comparative genomics estimates evolutionary relatedness
6. Phylogenetic trees and technologies represent evidence
7. Evaluating endosymbiosis as a model supported by converging evidence
8. Reading a molecular phylogeny without mistaking the drawing for a ladder

8 sections · 10 key terms & formulas · 6 common mistakes