About the Concept
Symbiogenesis is an evolutionary theory of the origins by which the endosymbiotic association of 2 organisms generates the existence of a new entity, all three parties keep their integrity and continue their existence interdependently, in a symbiogenetic process: 1 + 1 = 1
Sources
“Symbiosis, the system in which members of different species live in physical contact, strikes us as an arcane concept and a specialized bioligical term. This is because of our lack of awareness of its prevalence (…) if you look at your backyard or community park, symbionts are not obvious but they are omnipresent.” – Lynn Margulis, The Symbiotic Planet.
Exploitation
What if
“Although Darwin entitled his magnum opus ‘On the Origin of Species’, the appearance of new species is scarcely even discussed in his book.” explains Lynn Margulis in The Symbiotic Planet’s first pages. She believes symbiogenesis is crucial to evolution, and that: “Physical contact is a non-negotiable requisite for many differing kinds of life.”
Symbiogenesis is crucial evolution or the formation of species as Margulis explains: “Observation has led us to now understand evolution as happening along a non linear process marked by plateau stages of punctuated equilibrium (Stephen Jay GOULD), meaning that systems and organisms go from one equilibrium state to another following the path of sudden changes followed by punctuated equilibrium states. It is therefore very possible to understand better the role of symbiosis in this evolutionary process as the assimilation of an other organism radically changes the characteristiques of a genome. “Symbiogenesis is evolutionary change by the inheritance of acquired gene sets” “symbiosis generates novelty. It brings together different life forms, always for a reason”. (Ibid.)
Tree of Significance
- SYNONYM
- endosymbiotic theory
- ANTONYM
- natural selection
- HYPERNYM
- evolutionnary theory
- HYPONYM
- symbiosis