Symbiosis...

Life on Earth is said by science to have begun some 3.5 billion years ago. During those initial years, bacteria continually transformed the Earth's surface and atmosphere, its temperature and chemical composition. In the process, life's essential facilities of respiration, photosynthesis, motion, and fermentation became established.

Remarkably, in spite of an estimated 25% increase in the Sun's heat over the years, the Earth's surface temperature has remained hospitable for life. Through subtle cooperation, the various lines of bacterial life prevailed. The global trading of their genes (DNA recombination) is said to have arisen. This is one of the most astonishing discoveries of modern biology.

Moreover, it was discovered only recently that the mitochondria within cells carry their own genetic material. They replicate independent of the host cell. Lynn Margulis gradual came to realize that "unruly genes" such as these were, in fact, distinct living organisms that could be traced back to bacterial forefathers. Talk about recycling! The waste of one cell constituent became the food for another. The cell on the whole generally without waste.

So one can see the driving force in evolution shifting to co-evolution. The drama proceeds through a subtle interplay of competition and cooperation, creation and mutual adaptation.