June 01, 2024
A team of scientists observed a rare phenomenon in which two life forms, a bacterium and a species of algae, merged into one organism. The process known as primary endosymbiosis last occurred around a billion years ago. In this process, the algae, which is the host, engulfs the bacterium and supplies it with energy, protection and other benefits and the bacterium, in return, enables the algae to carry out functions it cannot perform. The bacterium eventually starts functioning like the algae’s internal organ and helps it fix nitrogen from the air. This discovery will help scientists better understand the process of evolution.
DID YOU KNOW?
Algae played an important role in the development of the plant kingdom as all types of plants evolved from algae.
Image for representational purposes
