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The origin of nuclei and of eukaryotic cells

Nature volume 256, pages 463–468 (1975)Cite this article

A Corrigendum to this article was published on 09 October 1975

Abstract

A new theory not involving symbiosis is proposed for the origin of eukaryotic cells. It explains how the evolution of phagocytosis by a wall-free blue-green alga would have created selection pressures leading directly to the formation of all characteristic eukaryote organelles and cell properties including mitosis, meiosis and sex.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysics, University of London King's College, 26–29 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5RL, UK

    T. Cavalier-Smith

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  1. T. Cavalier-Smith
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The erratum article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1038/257512a0

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Cavalier-Smith, T. The origin of nuclei and of eukaryotic cells. Nature 256, 463–468 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/256463a0

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