For the first time in over a billion years, two life forms have merged into one organism. This process, known as primary endosymbiosis, has occurred only twice in Earth’s history. The first example led to the development of all complex life forms through mitochondria, and the second led to the emergence of plants.
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Two life forms merge to become one organism for the first time in a billion years
— Independent (@Independent) April 23, 2024
An international team of scientists has witnessed this evolutionary phenomenon occurring between a type of marine algae and bacteria, reports independent.co.uk.
The first occurrence of this event marked the emergence of all complex life forms, said Tyler Cole, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who spearheaded the investigation in one of the two recent studies. He said he attached it.
Cole went on to explain that all living organisms more complex than bacterial cells owe their existence to this pivotal event. About a billion years ago, a similar event occurred in chloroplasts, leading to the evolution of plants.
This step requires the algae to engulf the bacteria, supplying the bacteria with nutrients, energy and protection, and in return giving the bacteria a role it was previously unable to perform, specifically the ability to “fix” atmospheric nitrogen. There is. The algae then assimilate the bacteria into internal organs known as organelles, which are important for host function.
Scientists in the United States and Japan who discovered the phenomenon say it offers a new perspective on evolutionary processes and could revolutionize agriculture.
Two life forms merge to become one organism for the first time in a billion years This phenomenon, called primary endosymbiosis, has only happened twice in Earth’s history, and for the first time gave rise to all the complex life we know through mitochondria. — James Hall (@JamesHa12466496) April 22, 2024
Cole said the system offers a new approach to nitrogen fixation and could provide insight into the possibility of incorporating such organelles into crops.
Researchers participating in the study are from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Rhode Island, the University of California, San Francisco, the University of California, Santa Cruz, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Barcelona Institute of Science, and the National Institute of Science. was. Taiwan Ocean University, Kochi University, Japan.
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