When the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts
To begin our exploration of biodiversity it might be helpful to think about the molecular mechanisms acting to generate this divergence. For sexually reproducing organisms, genetic recombination by means of chromosomal crossing over allows allelic genes to transfer across homologous chromosomal pairs during meiosis. This exchange of genetic material to reposition genes in new gene combinations may lead to offspring with potentially divergent phenotypic expression. Beginning about one decade ago came the realization that microbial symbionts of an organism acted to enhance certain host functional capabilities promoting the idea of a ‘meta-organism’, considering the host in combination with those accompanying microorganisms together representing that organism’s functional capability as a larger whole. The term ‘ holobiont’ (holo- whole, biont – life), the combination of the all of the cells of the host as well as those of the symbiotic microorganisms, and the hologenome , the analog...