when a person dies (defined by no brain wave and no heart activity) do many of the cells live on? If so, do they mutate, or merge or form another... something? This is terribly complicated... I'd love to hear other thoughts on this... Thank you...
2007-06-17 13:07:52 · 5 answers · asked by margo 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
I just read in Discover Magazine that a living human body has 100 trillion cells. Only 10% (10 trillion) of these cells are human cells. The rest are an assortment of bacteria and viruses and various parasites that live in and on humans.
Many of the bacterial cells live on to devour the body, but other parasitic organisms probably die when the body is no longer alive.
2007-06-17 14:55:49 · answer #1 · answered by Joan H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When a person dies the bacteria inside of them do live on, and digest our bodies.
I guess also right as a person dies, technically many of their cells are still alive for some period of time. They do die though eventually because of a lack of oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange, and lack of nutrients to provide energy to run the cells. But they will not mutate/merge or form anything else.
2007-06-17 21:21:01 · answer #2 · answered by IDon'tWantToLiveOnTheMoon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
humans have more human cells than bacterial cells, but anyways, when a person dies the bacteria eat the body, inside and out, and put the nutrients back into the soil.
2007-06-17 20:15:26 · answer #3 · answered by a rob 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well the bacteria will actually thrive. They now have dead tissue to eat. Bacteria after all are the decomposers. This is why you are embalmed to prevent the bacteria, fungus, and parasites from eating you.
2007-06-17 20:16:30 · answer #4 · answered by mr.answerman 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Each of us is a farm, carefully tended by our tenants. ;-) ~
You are right, this is the latest finding. Pretty incredible actually...
2007-06-17 20:17:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋