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Lynn Margulis (born , 2006 ) She is most well known for her renewed eukaryotic organelle genesis - or Endosymbiotic Theory . RESEARCH In 1966, as a young faculty member at Boston University, Lynn Margulis wrote a theoretical paper entitled "The Origin of Mitosing {Link without Title} Cells." The paper is considered a landmark paper in modern Endosymbiotic Theory . Although it draws heavily on symbiosis ideas first put forward in the mid-19th century scientists as well as the early 20th century work of Mereschkovsky (1905) and Wallin (1920), Margulis' endosymbiotic theory formulation is the first to rely on direct Microbiological observations (as opposed to Paleontological or Zoological observations which were previously the norm for new works in Evolutionary Biology ). The paper was initially heavily rejected, as symbiosis theories had been dismissed by mainstream biology at the time. Despite constant criticism of her ideas for decades, Margulis is famous for her tenacity in pushing her theory forward, despite the opposition she faced at the time - both for her theory and due to her gender. The underlying theme of endosymbiotic theory, as formulated in 1966, was interdependence & cooperative existence of multiple , 2006 ) She later formulated a theory to explain how symbiotic relationships that are taking place in modern day humans and animals are the driving force of Evolution . Genetic Variation is proposed to mainly occur as a result of transfer of nuclear information between Bacterial Cell s or Virus es and Eukaryotic Cell s. While her organelle genesis ideas are widely accepted, symbiotic relationships as a current method of introducing genetic variation is somewhat of a fringe idea. However, examination of the results from the Human Genome Project lead credence toward an endosymbiotic theory of evolution - or at the very least Margulis' endosymbiotic theory is the catalyst for current ideas about the composition of the human genome. Significant portions of the human genome are either bacterial or viral in origin - some clearly ancient insertions, while others are more recent in origin. This strongly supports the idea of symbiotic - and more likely Parasitic - relationships being a driving force for genetic change in humans, and likely all organisms. It should be noted that while the endosymbiotic theory has historically been juxtaposed with neodarwinism, the two theories are not incompatible and the truth is likelier to be that natural selection works on many levels (genetic up to the ecosystem) and variation is introduced both at the genetic and the cellular level. Prominent neodarwinist evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins , had this to say in 1995 about Lynn Marguilis and her work: I greatly admire Lynn Margulis's sheer courage and stamina in sticking by the endosymbiosis theory, and carrying it through from being an unorthodoxy to an orthodoxy. I'm referring to the theory that the eukaryotic cell is a symbiotic union of primitive prokaryotic cells. This is one of the great achievements of twentieth-century evolutionary biology, and I greatly admire her for it. "Gaia Is a Tough Bitch" (Accessed January 14 , 2006 ) Her present day efforts, in the form of books and lectures, strongly stress a symbiotic - and cooperative - relationship between all organisms and a strong leaning toward Gaia Theory . Her advocacy outside the realm of biology and toward more socio-political ends has been criticized by more mainstream scientists - somewhat similar to criticisms aimed toward Carl Sagan's latter day ideas. OTHER
PERSONAL She was the first wife of Astronomer Carl Sagan and is the mother of Dorion Sagan , popular science writer and co-author, Jeremy Sagan , software developer and founder of Sagan Technology , Zachary Margulis, lawyer and Jennifer Margulis, teacher and author. Margulis received a D.Sc. from Bates College in 2005. PUBLICATIONS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
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