Two lifeforms merge into single organism for first time in at least a billion years

The first time primary endosymbiosis happened, it gave rise to all complex life as we know it through mitochondria. Photo: Getty

Anthony Cuthbertson
© UK Independent

For the first time in at least a billion years, two lifeforms have merged into a single organism.

The process, called primary endosymbiosis, has only happened twice in the history of the Earth, with the first time giving rise to all complex life as we know it through mitochondria. The second time it happened saw the emergence of plants.