academia | This work is a contribution to the literature and knowledge on
evolution that takes into account the biological data obtained on
symbiosis and sym-biogenesis. Evolution is traditionally considered a
gradual process essentially consisting of natural selection, conducted
on minimal phenotypical variations that are the result of mutations and
genetic recombinations to form new spe-cies. However, the biological
world presents and involves symbiotic associations between different
organisms to form consortia, a new structural life dimension and a
symbiont-induced speciation. The acknowledgment of this reality implies
a new understanding of the natural world, in which symbiogenesis plays
an important role as an evolutive mechanism. Within this understanding,
symbiosis is the key to the acquisition of new genomes and new
metabolic capacities, driving living forms’ evolution and the
establishment of biodiversity and complexity on Earth. This chapter
provides information on some of the key figures and their major works on
symbiosis and symbiogenesis and reinforces the importance of these
concepts in our understanding of the natural world and the role they
play in the establishing of the evolutionary complexity of living
systems. In this context, the concept of the symbiogenic superorganism
is also discussed.
