How Complex Cells Evolved – Endosymbiosis

No one can deny the fact that you have never wanted the abilities or qualities of other people or animals. For example, someone’s looks, someone’s strengths or someone’s powers (probably superheroes). And what if it could actually happen, like a spider bites you and next day you are Spiderman.

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We’ll, what if I told you this is actually happening since forever?

An organism absorbs another and after unification, becomes a separate new organism. This organism has the abilities of both the original organisms. Like you, you have qualities of both your parents. 

Over a million years ago there were only Prokaryotes. These were organisms only with a single cell that lacked membrane bound organelles. Now how did things evolve? The answer to this is Endosymbiosis.

Now, what is endosymbiosis?

Endosymbiosis is the process of cells living together, one in another. The word is derived from three different Greek words, endon- within, syn- together, biosis- living.

There were three types of prokaryotic cells, with three different abilities. The first one had the ability to just wrap up things and absorb them. The second was a bacterial cell with the ability to convert solar energy into food with photosynthesis. And the third one had the ability to breakdown materials using oxygen and use this energy for life activities.

When the prokaryotic cells combined together or as we can say that start living together, the different abilities were combined together. This led to the formation of eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells are complex cells having membrane bound organelles  and a nucleus too. They can respirate, make food, change shape and size, release and use energy to do various activities.

It has taken over a million years to reach where we are today. Our bodies, the nature, the dependency on each other and the changes that take place, all of it. You may not have the power of a superhero, but let me tell you looking at how far we have come you actually are one.

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