A close, long-term biological relationship between two different species living together. This interaction can benefit both species (mutualism), benefit one while harming the other (parasitism), or benefit one with no effect on the other (commensalism).
From Greek 'sym' meaning together and 'bios' meaning life, literally meaning 'living together.' The term was introduced to biology in 1879 by German botanist Heinrich Anton de Bary to describe the intimate associations he observed between different organisms.
Symbiosis shows that cooperation, not just competition, drives evolution! The corals that build tropical reefs are actually partnerships between animals and algae - the coral provides shelter while the algae provide food through photosynthesis. Even more amazing, the mitochondria in every cell of your body were once free-living bacteria that formed a symbiotic relationship with early cells billions of years ago, and we still carry their DNA today.
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