In this hypothesis article, we explore the origin of the eukaryotic nucleus. In doing so, we first
look afresh at the nature of this defining feature of the eukaryotic cell and its core functions …

The origin of the eukaryotic cell, with its compartmentalized nature and generally large size
compared with bacterial and archaeal cells, represents a cornerstone event in the evolution …

Subcellular compartments often serve to store nutrients or sequester labile or toxic
compounds. As bacteria mostly do not possess membrane-bound organelles, they often …

Multicellularity is key to the functional and ecological success of the Eukarya, underpinning
much of their modern diversity in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Despite the …

Background Mangrove ecosystems are considered as hot spots of biogeochemical cycling,
yet the diversity, function and coupling mechanism of microbially driven biogeochemical …

Globally, soils and sediments are affected by the bioturbation activities of benthic species.
The consequences of these activities are particularly impactful in intertidal sediment, which …

The advent of next-generation sequencing technologies has facilitated the acquisition of
large amounts of DNA sequence data at a relatively low cost, leading to numerous …

The origin of modern eukaryotes is one of the key transitions in life's history, and also one of
the least understood. Although the fossil record provides the most direct view of this process …

Oxygen molecules accept electrons from the respiratory chain in the mitochondria and are
responsible for energy production in aerobic organisms. The reactive oxygen species …

The origin of eukaryotic cell size and complexity is often thought to have required an energy
excess supplied by mitochondria. Recent observations show energy demands to scale …