The ancestors of eukaryotic cells contained a mix of genes from various microbes

RESEARCH BRIEFINGS

17 June 2026

Reconstruction of the ancestral gene repertoire of eukaryotic cells reveals traces of a series of close, long-term interactions with diverse microorganisms, and a role of viruses in gene exchange. The findings challenge the view that eukaryotic cells evolved from a simple merger of just two organisms.

This is a summary of: Bernabeu, M. et al. Gene ancestries reveal diverse microbial associations during eukaryogenesis. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10639-9 (2026).

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-01739-7

Figure 1 is published under a CC BY 4.0 licence.

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