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From tiny to giant: How did eukaryotes create huge biomass on Earth?
In the evolution of life on Earth, the uniqueness of eukaryotes lies not only in the complexity of their cell structure, but also in their ability to develop extremely large biomass compared to prokaryotes. These eukaryotic organisms, which include animals, plants, and fungi, share the common characteristics of having a membrane-enclosed nucleus and a variety of organelles. Whether in terms of individual size or total biomass volume, eukaryotes occupy an important position on the earth.
The total biomass of eukaryotes is as high as 468 gigatons, far exceeding the 77 gigatons of prokaryotes.
The emergence of eukaryotes can be traced back to the Paleoproterozoic era, when life was mainly composed of single-celled eukaryotes. According to current research, eukaryotes may have originated from an organism called Asgard archaea, whose main features are the nucleus and other complex organelles. Over time, these creatures evolved multiple times, becoming not only more diverse but also larger in size.
Diversity of eukaryotes
Eukaryotic organisms range in size from microscopic single-celled organisms to 190-ton blue whales. Among all eukaryotic organisms, many are single-celled organisms called protists. Among multicellular organisms, giant kelp and others also display astonishing sizes. For example, some multicellular eukaryotes can reach a height of about 120 meters.
Many eukaryotes are single-celled, but multicellular eukaryotes can grow to tens of meters in height.
Although eukaryotes make up only a minority of all organisms, their combined global biomass far exceeds that of prokaryotes due to their generally larger size. This phenomenon can be seen in the number and volume of plants, which account for more than 81% of the Earth's total biomass.
Biochemical characteristics and mechanisms of eukaryotes
Eukaryotes have significant differences in biochemical characteristics from prokaryotes. They possess complex biochemical pathways, such as steroid synthesis, that contain proteins not found in other domains of life. The internal structure of eukaryotic cells also includes various membrane-enclosed organelles, including the endoplasmic reticulum and high-glucose bodies.
Eukaryotic cells have a variety of internal membrane structures, which together form the endomembrane system.
In addition, the mitochondria of eukaryotic organisms are known as the "powerhouses of the cell" because they can produce the energy-storing molecule ATP by oxidizing sugar or fat. Many eukaryotic organisms play crucial roles in the energy requirements of the cell.
Evolutionary history of eukaryotes
The evolutionary history of eukaryotes also attracts the interest of scientists. According to evolutionary research, eukaryotes may have begun to appear in the Paleoproterozoic era about 1.635 billion years ago. Organisms at this stage mainly existed in single-celled form, but as time went on, many types of multicellular organisms appeared one after another.
The evolution of eukaryotes dates back 1.635 billion years, and the diversity of early life increased rapidly in the following billions of years.
Scientists have proposed a variety of hypotheses to explain the origin of eukaryotes, the most representative of which is the endosymbiosis theory. The theory holds that eukaryotes evolved from a symbiotic relationship between an anaerobic archaeon and an aerobic proteobacterium, which led to the formation of mitochondria that can supply energy. As this evolutionary process progressed, the genetic combination of eukaryotes became more diverse, which is an important reason for their biodiversity.
ConclusionThe evolution of eukaryotes not only changed the earth's ecosystem, but also provided the necessary support for our survival. Their development from tiny single-celled organisms to giant blue whales and redwood trees shows the amazing potential of life. Will future biological research be able to uncover more mysteries of eukaryotic evolution?
