Ancient Bacteria Became Your Mitochondria

The mitochondria in our cells, which generate energy, are actually ancient bacteria that formed a symbiotic partnership with other single-celled organisms about 1.5 billion years ago. Early host cells engulfed these bacteria but did not digest them, and the two partners gradually merged their roles. The bacteria specialized in efficient energy production, while the host cell provided protection and raw materials. Over time, this long-term symbiosis turned the former bacteria into mitochondria, the tiny power plants that now fuel almost every process in our bodies.

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