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[Sly]

Originally posted by Zarkumo@Mar 28 2005, 12:24 PM

Yes. Why, what's the problem?

You can interpret the "critters" (whatever they are called) as an organ of the termite. In evolutionary terms, the role the critter plays in the physiology/body chemistry of the termite can be explained just as any role of any other organ of the termite.

We are all no biologists (I guess) so you have to excuse any generalisations on our part just as we excuse yours (your account of the symbiotic relationship between the termite and the "critter" is also rather general and not very detailled. No offense. I don't know it better.* But I think it's more complicated than that.)

Symbiotic microorganism Trichonympha sphaerica to digest cellulose is an example of endosymbiosis, a symbiotic relationship with an organism that lives inside the body of the host organism and cannot live outside it.

I just stated the process by which the symbiosis takes place. I figured no one would understand the official term of the organism, not saying I do as well. I was just stating that the relationship exists.