endosymbiosis
Organism absorbs another
Endosymbiosis is a biological relationship in which one organism lives inside another, with both typically benefiting.
The classic example is the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts—ancient bacteria that took up residence inside larger cells and eventually became permanent organelles.
The endosymbiosis theory explains how eukaryotic cells acquired their energy-producing structures.
Two-way biological benefit
- hostOne receiving guests
- legumesEdible pod-bearing plants
- nitrogen fixationConverting inert gas to ammonia
- coralMarine skeletal formation
Light-to-sugar conversion in plants
- plastidsMembrane-bound plant organelles
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- chlorophyllLight-harvesting plant pigment
- stromaSupportive tissue framework
Subcellular functional unit
- host cellCell invaded by pathogen
- intracellularWithin cell membranes
- eukaryoteOrganism with nucleated cells
- prokaryoteCell without nuclear membrane
cytoplasm · phagocytosis · endocytosis · membrane · engulfment · compartmentalization · vacuole · vesicle
Moving DNA between organisms
- coevolutionReciprocal adaptation between interacting species
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- common ancestorOrigin point of descendants
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
Cell's energy molecule
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- aerobicRequiring free oxygen
- cristaeMitochondrial membrane infoldings
- matrixOrdered numerical arrangement
mitochondrial DNA · cellular respiration · bioenergetics · inner membrane · maternal inheritance · energy metabolism · oxygen
mutualism
Two-way biological benefit
- hostOne receiving guests
- legumesEdible pod-bearing plants
- nitrogen fixationConverting inert gas to ammonia
coral · lichen · aphid · interdependence
photosynthesis
Light-to-sugar conversion in plants
- plastidsMembrane-bound plant organelles
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- chlorophyllLight-harvesting plant pigment
organelle
Subcellular functional unit
- host cellCell invaded by pathogen
- intracellularWithin cell membranes
- eukaryoteOrganism with nucleated cells
prokaryote · cytoplasm · phagocytosis · endocytosis · membrane · engulfment · compartmentalization · vacuole · vesicle · internalization
gene transfer
Moving DNA between organisms
- coevolutionReciprocal adaptation between interacting species
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- common ancestorOrigin point of descendants
ATP
Cell's energy molecule
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- aerobicRequiring free oxygen
- cristaeMitochondrial membrane infoldings
matrix · mitochondrial DNA · cellular respiration · bioenergetics · inner membrane · maternal inheritance · energy metabolism · oxygen
- evolutionevolution, natural selection, mutation, adaptation, speciation
- endo- wordsendocrine, endoscope, endoscopy, endorphin, endothermic
- scientific theoriesatomic theory, evolution, big bang theory, quantum theory, string theory
- symbiosismycorrhizae, mutualism, parasitism, commensalism, remora
- microbial ecologymicrobiome, microbiota, biofilm, mutualism, commensalism
- Endosymbiosismitochondria, chloroplast, chloroplasts, engulfment, host cell
endosymbiosisindependence
Freedom from external control
free-living · autonomy · isolation · self-sufficiency · separation
endosymbiosisparasitism
One benefits, one suffers
predation · pathogenesis · antagonism · parasitic infection · competition
symbiosis, symbiotic, symbiont, symbioses, symbionts, symbiotically, endo