Are biologists just now, as in only recently, saying such things? Because Deleuze and Guattari, in their difficult but amazing chapter "10000 B.C.: The Geology of Morals (Who Does the Earth Think It Is?)" in A Thousand Plateaus, said just this, in some detail, 30 years ago. I'd assumed they were repeating current biological research, but is it possible they were also anticipating some of it?
....
Only recently, I think, has this enhancement of evolutionary theory gained a serious foothold (or even taken a coherent form, achieving falsifiability). Carl Woese is apparently one of the few who, as long as 30 years ago, was moving towards these kinds of conclusions.
It would be a lovely indeed if it turned out that Deleuze and Guattari were aware of Woese's work in the 1970s and, sensing the verisimilitude, took a few steps ahead.
.d.