Recently, a review regarding the mechanics and evolution of mitochondrial fission appeared in Nature. Surprisingly, it stated authoritatively that the mitochondrial outer membrane, in contrast with the inner membrane of bacterial descent, was acquired from the host, presumably during uptake. However, it has been known for quite some time that this membrane was also derived from the Gram-negative, alpha-proteobacterium related precursor of present-day mitochondria. The zombie idea of the host membrane still surrounding the endosymbiont is not only wrong, but more importantly, might hamper the proper conception of possible scenarios of eukaryogenesis. Why? Because it steers the imagination not only with regard to possible uptake mechanisms, but also regarding what went on before. Here I critically discuss both the evidence for the continuity of the bacterial outer membrane, the reasons for the persistence of the erroneous host membrane hypothesis and the wider implications of these misconceptions for the ideas regarding events occurring during the first steps towards the evolution of the eukaryotes and later major eukaryotic differentiations. I will also highlight some of the latest insights regarding different instances of endosymbiont evolution.

中文翻译：

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关于早期内共生的僵尸思想：哪些进入机制为我们提供了不同内共生体中的“内共生”？

最近，《自然》杂志上发表了一篇关于线粒体裂变机制和进化的综述。令人惊讶的是，它权威地声明，与细菌后裔的内膜相反，线粒体外膜是从宿主获得的，大概是在吸收过程中。然而，很长一段时间以来，人们都知道这种膜也来自现代线粒体的革兰氏阴性、α-变形杆菌相关前体。宿主膜仍然围绕内共生体的僵尸思想不仅是错误的，而且更重要的是，可能会妨碍对真核发生可能情景的正确理解。为什么？因为它不仅在可能的吸收机制方面引导了想象力，而且还引导了之前发生的事情。在这里，我批判性地讨论了细菌外膜连续性的证据、错误的宿主膜假说持续存在的原因以及这些误解对真核生物进化的第一步中发生的事件的想法的更广泛影响以及后来的主要真核分化。我还将重点介绍有关内共生体进化不同实例的一些最新见解。