While standing in line at the supermarket, you notice the following newspapter headline: "Science Shocker: Alien Invaders in Every Cell of Your Body!" Explain why there may be some truth in this headline. (Hint: Fungi, plants, and anumals evolved from protists that lived millions of years ago.)
2006-11-12 12:59:18 · 9 answers · asked by RaphaelDeLaGhetto 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Hi. Are you talking about mitochondria?
2006-11-12 13:03:14 · answer #1 · answered by Cirric 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is about genes. Sometimes when a microorganism or a virus (specially a virus) enters a body, it is able to transfer some of its genes to the host's DNA. This is called transduction. When this happens, that gene will become a part of the host's DNA and will be replicated when the cell replicates its DNA (like in meiosis and mitosis) and can be inherited from one generation to the next. Scientists believe that is why there are so many genes in human genome and only a few of them are actually active.
2006-11-12 21:11:43 · answer #2 · answered by smarties 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mitochondrial DNA is similar to that of DNA found in prokaryotes such as bacteria. One theory is that somewhere along the evolutionary ladder, a eukaryotic precursor enveloped certian bacteria, which evolved into what we know as mitochondria today.
2006-11-12 22:38:34 · answer #3 · answered by Spaghetti Cat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What does "alien" mean? it could mean foreign to the body, in which case, bacteria, viruses, pollutants, etc. are alien invaders. It could also mean extraterrestial, so that could mean cosmic rays. So there is some truth to the headline.
2006-11-12 21:06:59 · answer #4 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
every one has bacteria in them and our immune system fights it off if it is bad and helps it grow if it is good but is all ALIEN to our body because it is foriegn to us!!
Unless you are talking about all the little green men inside us!!! LOL
2006-11-12 21:09:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think this is intended as a reference to the origin of cellular organelles(endosymbiosis).
2006-11-12 21:04:40 · answer #6 · answered by Nick F 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yeah ok, germs are everywhere and we have parasites that live daily on our bodies..
2006-11-12 21:01:59 · answer #7 · answered by Betty Boop 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Germs are everywhere!
2006-11-12 21:00:44 · answer #8 · answered by Ruby 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it sounds like you already know the answer to this question
2006-11-12 21:00:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋