Which of the following provides strong evidence for the endosymbiotic hypothesis?

Chloroplast genes are more similar (& closely related) to mitochondrial genes than to bacterial genes Bacterial genes are more similar (& closely related) to mitochondrial genes than to chloroplast genes

Nuclear genes are more similar (& closely related) to cyanobacterial genes than to genes from Archaea

Mitochondrial genes are more similar (& closely related) to bacterial genes than to nuclear genes of the host

Chloroplast genes are more similar (& closely related) to nuclear genes of the host than to mitochondrial genes

The correct option is Mitochondrial genes are more similar (& closely related) to bacterial genes than to nuclear genes of the host.

Explanation:

The endosymbiotic hypothesis explains the fact that prokaryotes might have given birth to eukaryotes. The hypothesis states that organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplast once existed as prokaryotic organisms. These smaller prokaryotes were engulfed by bigger prokaryotes and hence eukaryotes came into existence.

This hypothesis can be supported by the evidence that the mitochondria and chloroplast are more like the bacterial cells rather than the host nucleus in which they are present. They have their own DNA like a bacterial cell and machinery to transcribe this DNA just like a bacterial cell. These organelles are enclosed by membranes just like a bacterial cell.