Speaking of evolution...are we EVER going to evolve some sort of protection from these nasty germs?

Question

Here I am, supposedly the result of x-millions of years of evolution, and I am sick with, of all things, the common cold.
We've seen these little buggers "evolve" resistance to our medications, and called the process "micro-evolution"...why can't we seem to "evolve" some serious resistance to them??? Finches "evolved" shorter beaks...maybe shorter noses, or something??
C'mon, you science types, how 'bout helping me out here??

Answer 1

What I would like to know is this...........
Since we "evolve" things to make life easier.......... (Like the finches with the beaks)
Why haven't we grown another arm????????
I mean, come on, we need another arm. We don't have enough arms as it is. Why haven't we grown more arms?????

And why haven't we grown extra eyes in the back or our heads??

Answer 2

yes, mankind will eventually resistance to these "germs". After years and years, we will eventually have a genetic mutation that will allow us to be protected from them, or in the case of HIV, simply allow it to live within us. Those people with the mutation will survive and produce more offspring, passing on the trait. This relies on three things.
1. The germ in someway causes those affected to be less successful at passing on their genetic material. (it kills them early, the affected can not produce as many children etc.) Making a resistant person more likely to survive and prosper in the genetic pool.
2. The germ is not controlled or prevented from doing the above through use of man made medicines/vaccines. Thereby eliminating the effects of natural selection.
3. The germ itself does not evolve or mutate. This is the kicker. A germ (population/not individual) can evolve over the course of hours, unlike humans that take 15 yrs between offspring (scientifically NOT legally). Their populations are also measured in the billions just in one human. so they are much "better " at evolving than we are. Do a search on the red queen effect. it is the reason trees grow so high, even though the same amount of sun would reach them if they were short.

Answer 3

Consider this..... For every generation of man, there are THOUSANDS of generations of any given bacteria or virus. Do you really think that there's any chance of keeping up with them at that rate? If it took a thousand generations for evolution to really make a change in a species, a single species of bacteria will change several times in a person's lifetime, and millions of times before mankind could create a suitable natural defense. Our only hope is science and medication, which the common cold always stays one step ahead of. We'll never be rid of it, so all we can do is minimize how often we get it and how long we keep it.

It should also be noted that our primary defense, a reliance on medicine, is also what will keep us from evolving, because the weak don't just die off like they would in nature. If we allow the weakest members of our species to mate and breed, then they will continue to pass on unfavorable genes, and the race will never get stronger.

Answer 4

Some people are naturally more resistant to the little buggies and germs, If we didn't have modern medicine and technology, these people would tend to pass their genes more as the less resistant would tend to die more from the germs before reproducing. So then humans would have evolved protection.

This has happened - the sickle cell trait has been shown to be resistant to malaria.


Plant researchers have developed crops resistant to some crop viruses. (easier to do since there is such a short generation time in plants)

Answer 5

Aww, you've a stalker! *right now geese outdoors your window* kidding :D nicely, it relies upon who the stalker is... if it were someone from my contacts that i love, it can make me smile. yet when it were some creepy abdomen-button-lint-ingesting 50 12 months previous perv, i'd not somewhat be extremely joyful. really, once in a lengthy time period I do observe an better element impulsively, yet I often get distracted with information from exciting questions, so I ignore to look it up. BQ: Hmm... it relies upon what the reason behind giving is. If that human being somewhat needs help, i do not care even if that's nameless or not. yet does that make me better selfless? i do not understand... *nonetheless ponders*

Answer 6

Its a running battle.... hosts evolve defences and so the bacteria evolve to get around them.

what doesn't adapt dies. If gazelles hadn't evolved greater speed and leaping abilities, the lions would have exterminated them (and of course vice verse)

Answer 7

Sure, white blood cells, mucus, anti-bodies. You have evolved lots. The problem is the germs evolve too.

Answer 8

Actually, yes. You evolve a defense every year and the colds evolve a new attack strategy every year.

But to minimize the chances that you'll get a cold, eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, get lots of sleep, and don't read Y!A.

Answer 9

Germs are not a cause of disease, since the same germs are always bombarding the system. It is weakness in the immune system that makes a person suseptible. Take better care of yourself, and you'll be fine.

Answer 10

the problem with the common cold is it "evolves" literally. It is constantly changing its makeup so there is no way to cure it.
The best way to avoid it is keep your hands washed and lysol on hand.