Evolutionary origin of eukaryotic cells

This article reviews literature on the transition from rudimentary prokaryotic life to eukaryotes. An overview of the differences between these organisms and theories of eukaryogenesis are reviewed. Various methods of investigating the transformation from prokaryotes to eukaryotes are elaborated, including the fossil, the molecular and living records, and examples are given. Lastly, the recent molecular studies and the impact on phylogenetic classification for the tree of life, based on molecular evolution, are discussed.