endosymbiosis

[ en-doh-sim-bee-oh-sis, -bahy- ]

noun

, Biology.

1. symbiosis in which one symbiont lives within the body of the other.

endosymbiosis

/ ˌɛndəʊˌsɪmbɪˈəʊsɪs /

noun

1. a type of symbiosis in which one organism lives inside the other, the two typically behaving as a single organism. It is believed to be the means by which such organelles as mitochondria and chloroplasts arose within eukaryotic cells

Derived Forms

• ˌendoˌsymbiˈotic, adjective

Other Words From

• en·do·sym·bi·ot·ic [en-doh-sim-bee-, ot, -ik, -bahy-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of endosymbiosis¹

First recorded in 1935–40; endo- + symbiosis

Example Sentences

The Aiptasia sea anemone is a model system for research on endosymbiosis in corals and other cnidarians.

From Science Daily

It’s not at all clear that the ancestral proto-eukaryote had that ability, Martin says — which would make the barrier to that first endosymbiosis much higher.

From Scientific American

Using this information, the authors sought to resolve a key mystery in coral biology: which cells in the organism are responsible for recognizing the appropriate algal species and establishing the endosymbiosis?

From Nature

Future studies should focus on the cell biology of endosymbiosis.

From Nature

Hu and colleagues’ work heralds a new and valuable attempt at a rigorous and systematic understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of coral endosymbiosis, and, potentially, of coral bleaching.

From Nature