Proper noun
Gaia hypothesis
The idea that both the biosphere and the inorganic components of Earth interact to form a coherent, complex system that allows for life to persist.
Gaia hypothesis further Margulis initially sought out the advice of Lovelock for her own research: she explained that, "In the early seventies, I was trying to align bacteria by their metabolic pathways. Source: Internet
Margulis met with Lovelock, who explained his Gaia hypothesis to her, and very soon they began an intense collaborative effort on the concept. Source: Internet