True or False: Loss of the cell wall is required for the endomembrane system theory.

The assertion that loss of the cell wall is required for the endomembrane system theory is indeed true. The endomembrane system theory suggests that the eukaryotic cell evolved through the inward folding of the plasma membrane, which led to the formation of various organelles, such as the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus.

For this process to occur, the cell wall must be absent or lost because a rigid cell wall can impede the flexibility needed for membrane folding and internal compartmentalization. In organisms with cell walls, like plants and certain bacteria, the development of the endomembrane system as theorized would be greatly restricted. Thus, the evolution of eukaryotic cells, as proposed in this theory, relies on the absence of a cell wall, allowing for greater structural adaptability and the formation of complex internal organelles.