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Name: Zarshis
Status: Student
Grade:  Other
Location: Outside U.S.
Country: Australia
Date: Summer 2009
Question:
I know that cellular respiration in mitochondria needs both the membranes of the mitochondria so as to maintain a proton motive gradient. If the theory of endosymbiosis is true, then how did the primitive aerobic bacteria with only a single membrane carry out respiration?


Replies:
Zarshis,

There can be a proton gradient across a cell membrane, not just across a membrane within a cell. For example, certain bacteria and archaea have a proton gradient across their membranes (inside vs. outside), and can still respire without internal membranes.

Hope this helps,
Burr


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