Symbiogenesis

This comprehensive overview of endosymbiotic theory documents the scientific consensus that mitochondria arose from alphaproteobacteria engulfed by ancestral cells approximately 1.5 billion years ago. The theory, pioneered by Lynn Margulis, explains one of the most fundamental transitions in the history of life - the origin of eukaryotic cells.

For business leaders, endosymbiosis demonstrates that the most transformative partnerships don't just create value - they create entirely new capabilities that neither party could develop alone. The merger became irreversible because each party specialized so deeply that independent survival became impossible.