of Malawimonas jakobiformis arises from a clearly defined point on the ventral surface of the flagellum. In contrast, the other jakobids’ vane has a diffuse origin along the dorsal surface. Malawimonas, Jakobids, and Mitochondrial Origin The early study of molecular investigations revealed that the genome of Reclinomonas americana, Jakoba libera and Malawimonas jakobiformis collectively represent the most eubacterial-like mitochondrial DNAs yet discovered among all eukaryotes. Jakobids group have all the basic forms of mitochondrial cristae known in eukaryotes. The mitochondrial shape has been seen as a strongly conserved character and is used to delimit the deepest evolutionary division within eukaryotes. Malawimonas position within Eukaryotes A study based on alpha and beta- tubulin phylogenies found that Malawimonas jakobiformis occupied a relatively basal position in the plant-protists superclade and showed the distinctness from the “core jakobids”. Molecular phylogenies have not resolved the position of malawimonads within eukaryotes. Analyses of the small number of nucleus-encoded genes often place malawimonads as close relatives of metamonads. Since 2016, most phylogenomic shows place malawimonads separately from other excavates. Phylogenesis of SSU rDNA, tubulins, 5-7 nucleus-encoded proteins, and phylogenetic analyses conclude that malawimonads are not specifically related to jakobids. The similarities between jakobids and malawimonads apparently reflect the ancestral morphology of excavate protists, or perhaps convergence, and not a close phylogenetic relationship. References External links Tree of Life: Malawimonas Excavata genera Scotokaryotes