The origin of eukaryotes and their relationship with the Archaea: are we at a phylogenomic impasse?

• Published in: Nature reviews. Microbiology Vol. 8; no. 10; pp. 743 - 752
• Main Authors: Gribaldo, Simonetta, Poole, Anthony M., Daubin, Vincent, Forterre, Patrick, Brochier-Armanet, Céline
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.10.2010; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/208/182; 631/208/212/2306; 631/208/2156; 631/326/26; Archaea; Archaea - classification; Archaea - genetics; Archaeabacteria; Bacteria; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - genetics; Biodiversity; Biological Evolution; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell division; Classification; Classification - methods; Eukaryota; Eukaryota - classification; Eukaryota - genetics; Eukaryotes; Genetic aspects; Genome; Genome - genetics; Host-bacteria relationships; Hypotheses; Infectious Diseases; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; opinion-2; Parasitology; Physiological aspects; Populations and Evolution; Virology; France

The evolutionary relationship between the Archaea and the Eukarya remains unclear. Here, Gribaldo and colleagues provide an overview of seven recent studies that investigate the problem but that reach different conclusions. Furthermore, they provide a framework for future studies. The origin of euka...