Xenosome
Bacterium that lives in the body of some marine protozoans
A xenosome is a bacterium that lives in the body of some marine protozoans. It primarily refers to bacterial invaders of the cytoplasm of a single genus of marine scuticociliates. They are found in ciliates, sometimes with a methanogenic role inside anaerobic ciliates.
In 1985, researcher John Corliss proposed to expand the definition of the term to include all DNA-containing, membrane-bounded bodies or organelles, prokaryotic or eukaryotic in original nature, found within the cytoplasm or nucleus of eukaryotic cells of any or all kinds, regardless of whether the occupation was temporary or permanent.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Xenosome”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.