title: Archaeal-eubacterial mergers in the origin of Eukarya: phylogenetic classification of life.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003-5810, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Margulis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001105:Archaea / Q000145:classification*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification; D010802:Phylogeny; D010944:Plants / Q000145:classification; D013142:Spirochaeta / Q000145:classification; D013822:Thermoplasma / Q000145:classification