In 1859, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, a work of literature that not only provided a working framework for the theory of evolution, “descent with modification” by means of natural selection, but also explained how the cumulative impact of natural selection influenced an organism and its environment. Darwin, however, neglected to mention how infectious diseases have served as a pivotal selective force in natural selection (Lederberg, 1999). Since animals first walked the earth, they have had to live with microscopic organism, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Not only did these microorganisms share an environment with animals, they interacted with them, causing both illness and death. Humans were no exception. Since the evolution of man, humans have had to adapt to these microbes at the genetic, as well as societal level, implementing environmental changes to survive (Inhorn & Brown, 1990). In this paper, I intend to explore how infectious diseases had an impact on human adaptations by demonstrating a coevolutionary relationship between humans and the microorganisms humankind has tried to evade.
Infectious disease can be defined as an invasion caused by organisms ranging from microscopic viruses and bacteria to complex parasites (Inhorn & Brown, 1990). According to Inhorn & Brown, it can be argued that infectious diseases were the main agents and driving force of natural selection over the past 500 years, selecting against those humans that were more susceptible to a disease causing agent and selecting for those individuals that were more resistant to a disease causing agent. Inhorn & Brown based their premise on evolution at the microscopic level. The organism’s ...
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...ase, a biological arms race that is still in progress today.
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Jennifer Ackerman's main focus in her article The Ultimate Social Network, is that of the functions concerning bacteria within humans. Although scientists have had presumptions about humans being proficient in governing their body’s innermost structure, they soon come to recognize the sophistication of our inner space which holds an extensive plethora of bacteria and other microorganisms that lie within each and every one of us. Moreover, scientists' new and emerging view of how the human body operates, and the cause of increasing present-day diseases (i.e. obesity and different autoimmune disorders) are uncovered by analyzing effects of certain microbe species in our bodies. By italicizing on points such as the above, in conjunction with bacteria's genetic variations, and modern computing technology, the author proves that scientists are quickly progressing with the characterization the most prevalent species of microbes, which, in her opinion, is definitely paying off.
There are many reasons that disease is a necessary part of an ecosystem. First, and most obvious, is the fact that it is one of nature’s natural checks. This means that nature, in an attempt to control population and insure a balanced ecosystem, constantly checks itself. Disease is an integral part of these checks, as it cuts down
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Dr. Sharon Moalem and Jonathan Prince’s book, Survival of the Sickest, points out the fact that diseases do not always need to be cured infact beneficial mutations is how we evolve. Although the book mainly discusses how diseases evolve humans, Moalem and Prince do discuss how we, humans shape diseases. By the simple acts of getting and giving mosquito netting, one forces the malaria virus to find a new perhaps less malicious path to survival and reproduction one that may not cure the malaria virus but may make not fatal, similar to the common
It is distinct that Darwin’s theory is more suited to the evolution of MRSA as it involves concepts of Natural Selection. Methicillin resistant strands have a better chance of surviving and breeding whereas other non-resistant strands die off as they have a lower probability of survival. They adapt to mankind’s defences to generate more breeding grounds of MRSA in humans and animals to generate growth. Genetic variation does not have to occur randomly as plasmids can transfer segments of DNA to distantly related organisms.
The objective of the host is to "escape" from the pathogen. This can be done through the use of the immune system or by quickly dying. When a host dies with the pathogen still inside the pathogen dies as well. Resistance to invaders evolved as a result of the development of the mechanism of immunity. The development of immunity depends on the recognition of differences in chemical structures of substances.
Thomas disccuseed thr “paranoid delusions on a societal scale,” that we have against human diseases or our “enemies.” The book contiuniuously uses anaphora by saying that diseases result from “inconclusive negoitions for symbiosis” and misinterpretation of biology” The fact that bacteria can only be harmful from practiacally harming themselves is an interesting point to point out. That shows the reader that the only way they could be harmed from bacteria, wouls be if the bacteria had gotten itself “sick” first. Thomas talks about certain microorganisms that have “advantages in their ability to affect himan beinhg, but that there is nothing to be gained, in an evolutionary sense, by the capacity to caue illness or death.” Another reassuraing statement for readers is when he says, pathogenicy is a disadvantage for most microbes because they are carrying
Others include defenses, genes, and design compromises. Some health practitioners treat symptoms without consideration of evolution. This is dangerous both to the individual and to society as a whole. If a fever is viewed as a highly evolved bodily defense, then the decision to treat that fever takes on a new level of consideration. If iron deficiency is a defense to chronic infection, should a supplement be prescribed? If the defense threatens the well being of the patient, then treatment is necessary. If the defense presents discomfort, but is fighting the pathogen, treatment may present the greater danger. On a societal scale, failure to consider evolution combined with over prescription of antibiotics to treat bodily defenses has lead to “superbugs” resistant to
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Bacteria are living organisms, and as such they have the ability to evolve by mutation and natural selection. This is the process by which random genetic mutations create individuals better suited to their environment, which then live to reproduce. The progeny of this individual will then have this mutation, and so a species evolves. One of the largest problems facing the medical profession today is that harmful, that ...
Emerging diseases have been a threat to humanity for centuries. The many technological advances have allowed scientists to discover the ways, in which these diseases can be controlled and, in some cases, eradicated. By definition, emerging diseases are those diseases that have emerged on specific geographical locations where they were not recorded previously, or diseases that already exist on a specific geographical area but are rapidly spreading throughout a population (Jorge R. Ray, 2015). There are different ways of how these diseases can be spread out. Some examples of this are inappropriate interactions between humans and animals, environmental changes, and interactions with people that have travel internationally. These are some of the
When looking back on history, it is evident to see that humans by nature are warriors. Humans often find themselves fighting mysterious battles against disguised enemies. Throughout history the earth has been afflicted with mysterious diseases, which tend to invisibly cause the preponderance of civilizations to perish. The evolution of infectious diseases has and always will provide challenges for humankind (Hoff, Smith, and Calisher 6-7). Over the course of time, humans gradually developed a preference to live in large urban settings. Urbanization and the cross-cultural interaction of civilizations have both strongly provoked widespread illness, which is known as an epidemic or pandemic based upon size. An epidemic is when a common disease affects a large number of people within a particular region (Lamb). A pandemic is similar to an epidemic but is even more widespread than an epidemic, and spreads throughout entire continents or even the world. Despite the slight variation in meaning, most pandemics are interchangeably denoted as epidemics (Friendlander 13-14). Epidemics and pandemics have formed the course of human history by inflicting lifestyle alterations and abruptly killing large masses of people. When one thinks of widespread disease it is easy to think that pandemics and epidemics are things of the past. Unfortunately, epidemics are commonly found today in poorer countries and major pandemics are still on the rise, such as the modern disease AIDS (Lampton 12-15). Nonetheless, epidemics and pandemics affect large portions of the world’s population; thus, these ongoing diseases will always influence the history of mankind because they force transformation amongst even the strongest civilizations.
In the 1960s, doctors in the United States predicted that infectious diseases were in decline. US surgeon Dr. William H. Stewart told the nation that it had already seen most of the frontiers in the field of contagious disease. Epidemiology seemed destined to become a scientific backwater (Karlen 1995, 3). Although people thought that this particular field was gradually dying, it wasn’t. A lot more of it was destined to come. By the late 1980s, it became clear that people’s initial belief of infectious diseases declining needed to be qualified, as a host of new diseases emerged to infect human beings (Smallman & Brown, 2011).With the current trends, the epidemics and pandemics we have faced have created a very chaotic and unreliable future for mankind. As of today, it has really been difficult to prevent global epidemics and pandemics. Although the cases may be different from one state to another, the challenges we all face are all interconnected in this globalized world.