The likely evolutionary path from inorganic materials to multicellular eukaryotes (to plants, fungi, and animals, including us):

 
Prokaryotes      ----->  
(small cells without nuclei)
Eukaryotes      ----->  
(larger cells with nuclei, and typically with organelles)
Multicellular eukaryotes
(plants, animals, things like us)
 
Image
Image
Image
Inferred
origin:
Origin from inorganic materials
Symbiosis of prokaryotes
Combination of eukaryotic cells
Known
processes
analogous
to that
inferred
origin:
Simple chemicals will form amino acids;
amino acids will form proteins;
proteins will form cell-sized microspheres
(see experiments by Fox & Miller and others).
Many eukaryotes have bacterial endosymbionts;
Kwang Jeon's experiments show bacteria can become obligate endosymbionts.
Multicellular slime molds routinely assemble from many individual free-living cells.
1122
webpages
to visit:
 
Intra-cellular symbiosis;
An endosymbiotic experiment
Slime Molds
Other
webpages
to visit:
The Miller/Urey Experiment
 
 



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