[Campbell Biology P.646] Which of the following statements accurately reflects the current u... | Practice Question

Which of the following statements accurately reflects the current understanding regarding 'amitochondriate protists' as discussed in the text?

  • A: They are now considered the earliest diverging lineage of all eukaryotes.
  • B: They completely lack mitochondria and are classified as a single, distinct supergroup.
  • C: Recent data reveals they possess highly reduced mitochondria and are placed in various distantly related groups.
  • D: Their classification remains unchanged despite new research, confirming their primitive nature.

Explanation

The text explains that while 'amitochondriate protists' were once thought to be the earliest lineage without conventional mitochondria, recent data structural and DNA has shown that many possess reduced mitochondria and are now classified into various distantly related groups, undermining the initial hypothesis.