Would something biological is biologically deceased, and in the abscence of all bacteria, inside and out, decay at all, and from what processes?
2006-09-29 19:39:24 · 5 answers · asked by careercollegestudent69 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
This is a hypothetical question, for those of you who are missing the point. At room temperature, what would happen in the abscence of ALL bacteria to a deceased ANYTHING!
2006-09-29 20:02:54 · update #1
Like what was previously stated, you're not going to easily find an absence of all bacteria. Hypothetically speaking, however, yes biological matter will still decay even without bacteria anywhere near it. Fungus, and other non-bacterial microorganisms would invade it, utilizing the proteins for energy and growth. The process would look quite different than normal decay, but it would still occur.
Just thought I'd add that if you meant ALL microorganisms and fungi as well, then I'd say no, not within a reasonable time frame. It's true that RNA would breakdown on its own, but that wouldn't have any effect on the structure of the dead organism, and it would look the same. Most structural proteins of animals are extremely stable, and at normal temperatures and normal levels of environmental stress (like UV radiation) they will not spontaneously dissociate. Of course, everything has a half-life. I have no idea what the half-life of a very stable protein would be (eg; collagen or keratin) but I'd imagine it be many thousands of years before you'd see any significant change in your 'dead thing'. The only real change you'd be seeing is the structural changes that occur as it dehydrates. In other words, it would kind of shrivel up like a mummy, but then it would just stay that way for literally ages.
2006-09-29 20:05:41 · answer #1 · answered by Geoffrey B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the abscence of all microscopic organisms, there would be decay to some level. Many of the cellular structures such as mRNA and some proteins are not stable, and will eventually degrade chemically. Also DNA can be damaged by outside influences such as UV light, so it too would become damaged and would start to decay as it were. I hope that answers your question.
2006-09-30 05:15:15 · answer #2 · answered by Bacteria Boy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the abscense of all bacteria, no. But that would be impossible, due to the need for bacteria to digest, in any biological.
2006-09-30 02:44:50 · answer #3 · answered by Chris R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont think you can have an absence of bacteria in a natural world
2006-09-30 02:41:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
nop cant happen in the open world, not even in a closed enviorment.
2006-09-30 02:49:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋