THE SPERMATOZOON CONTAINS approximately 50–75 pieces of mitochondria in its midpiece. 1 The structure and function of the sperm mitochondria are essentially similar to mitochondria in somatic cells. The sperm mitochondria produce energy for the movement of the sperm. The sperm mitochondria, as well as the mitochondria in the somatic cells, contain its own DNA (mitochondrial DNA; mtDNA).

[ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Research brainless slime mould cognition intellegence capabilities.

Slime mold is sometimes called a superorganism: an organism made up of organisms. The slime mold is both many and one at the same time — and therefore catnip for philosophers like Keats.

[google.com]

After you understand brainless slime mould cognition among many single, single-celled organisms on this small scale, contemplate on a larger scale of homo sapian and a greater single cognition among the single homo sapian organisms. Perhaps it is what some have come to call it "God".

Then, you ask, "If I'm not mistaken isn't the mitochondria a bacteria that has established a symbiotic relationship with the rest of the cell?"

Research zombie ant fungus cognition parasite

Then, i suggest you research illogical atheist Richard Dawkin's mind "virus" organism.

Proponents theorize that memes are a viral phenomenon that may evolve by natural selection in a manner analogous to that of biological evolution.[6] Memes do this through the processes of variation, mutation, competition, and inheritance, each of which influences a meme's reproductive success. Memes spread through the behavior that they generate in their hosts.

The word meme itself is a neologism coined by Richard Dawkins, originating from his 1976 book The Selfish Gene.[12] Dawkins's own position is somewhat ambiguous. He welcomed N. K. Humphrey's suggestion that "memes should be considered as living structures, not just metaphorically"[12] and proposed to regard memes as "physically residing in the brain."[13]

[en.m.wikipedia.org]

After you have researched the previous connected suggestions, I would be curious as to what you think.

@Word I'll read through all of this as a refresher, however I'm already familiarized with these topics, except meme life forms, lol

@ReubenDS as to meme lifeforms, I don't think the way I see things or understand, I don't think it was Richard Dawkin's original understandings or intentions as to what the mind organism is implicating.

I find by observation, that when understanding the "meme organism " it actually gives the best understanding of what the biblical text is saying about Jesus character.

I won't type my observations here again but feel free to join my group and review posts I have explained there.

"Illogical atheists guide for ending Christianity "

For having no brain or neurons, slime molds — a.k.a. Physarum polycephalum — are incredibly intelligent, capable of solving complex problems with extreme efficiency. An additional plus: They’re naturally nonpartisan.

[google.com]

Interesting to consider the worm cognition. Information maybe helpful to my query.

The nervous system of the earthworm is "segmented" just like the rest of the body. The "brain" is located above the pharynx and is connected to the first ventral ganglion. The brain is important for movement: if the brain of the earthworm is removed, the earthworm will move continuously. If the first ventral ganglion is removed, the earthworm will stop eating and will not dig. Each segmented ganglion gets sensory information from only a local region of its body and controls muscles only in this local region.
Earthworms have touch, light, vibration and chemical receptors all along the entire body surface. [faculty.washington.edu]

Studies of the nervous systems of annelids show certain behavioral capabilities, including perception, motor coordination, and learning. Because the neuronal organization behind these capabilities can be deduced, they may give an indication of the mechanisms underlying similar patterns of activity and behaviours at other levels of the phylogenetic scale. [britannica.com]

D.N.A. is a form of intelligence. I understand mD.N.A. has to do with A.T.P. production, but it's still a form or type of D.N.A.

Starting as a zygote, both D.N.A.s are present and built to your cognition intellegent capabilities.