title: An archaeal origin of eukaryotes supports only two primary domains of life.
abstract: The discovery of the Archaea and the proposal of the three-domains 'universal' tree, based on ribosomal RNA and core genes mainly involved in protein translation, catalysed new ideas for cellular evolution and eukaryotic origins. However, accumulating evidence suggests that the three-domains tree may be incorrect: evolutionary trees made using newer methods place eukaryotic core genes within the Archaea, supporting hypotheses in which an archaeon participated in eukaryotic origins by founding the host lineage for the mitochondrial endosymbiont. These results provide support for only two primary domains of life--Archaea and Bacteria--because eukaryotes arose through partnership between them.
authors: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors: Tom A
authors: TA
authors: Williams
authors: Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK.
authors: Peter G
authors: PG
authors: Foster
authors: Centro de Ciências do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors: Cymon J
authors: CJ
authors: Cox
authors: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors: T Martin
authors: TM
authors: Embley
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D010802:Phylogeny; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D012335:RNA, Ribosomal