Over the ensuing decades, accumulating molecular and geneti…

Over the ensuing decades, accumulating molecular and genetic evidence—such as the discovery of distinct, bacteria-like DNA in mitochondria and chloroplasts—turned Margulis’ once-dismissed ideas into scientific consensus[1][4][5]. Today, the endosymbiotic theory features as a foundational concept in biology textbooks worldwide, on par with the contributions of Darwin and Watson & Crick.