Midi-chlorians are a concept introduced in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. They are intelligent microscopic life forms that reside within all living cells, existing in a symbiotic relationship with the beings they inhabit. According to George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, the way one interacts and interfaces with the Force is through the midi-chlorians, which are sensitive to the energy. They are at the core of ones life, which is the cell, the living cell. The higher the count of midi-chlorians in a host, and the more sensitive the host is to listen to the midi-chlorians, the greater the power of the host to wield the Force.
Midi-chlorians are not the same as the Force, but they are related concepts that communicate with each other. The Force is still an unknown energy that seemingly has a will of its own and allows for the use of typical Force powers. By contrast, midi-chlorians are simply life forms that allow their hosts to connect to this energy. They live in the cells of every living being, creating a symbiotic relationship with their hosts, and providing the gift of Force sensitivity.
While midi-chlorians have been a controversial addition to the Star Wars universe, they are an integral part of the lore and have been mentioned numerous times in the franchise.
