Endosymbiont
Definition
An organism that lives inside another organism, often benefiting both parties. In biology, this term often refers to how certain organelles were once free-living bacteria that got incorporated into early eukaryotic cells.
Analogy
Imagine if you had a small chef living inside your home who cooked all your meals for you. In return, you provide the chef with a safe place to live. This is similar to how endosymbionts work.
Related terms
Symbiosis: A close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms.
Mitochondrial DNA: The small amount of DNA that is located in the mitochondria of cells, inherited only from the mother, suggesting its origin from an endosymbiotic event.
Chloroplasts: Organelles found in plant cells and eukaryotic algae that conduct photosynthesis; they are also thought to have originated as endosymbiotic cyanobacteria.
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