Microbes(germs)are a major part of evoultion but they also are the origins of diseases that kill. So how can something be significant to life if it can harm us. I came to the conclusion that all living things must die and germs is just another way for that process to happen, in order for life to start over again.
2007-10-19 01:46:37 · 7 answers · asked by H 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Interesting idea. In a way you are absolutely correct.
First, to clarify one question: "So how can something be significant to life if it can harm us."
Simple. Because "life" is bigger than just "us."
The bacteria that cause disease in humans (actually a small percentage of the total number of bacteria in the world) are just surviving. Whether this cause us harm or not is irrelevant to them ... unless it were to cause *so* much harm that it wipes us out (bad for them ... they've lost a good host).
But I agree with the basic premise that death is a necessary part of life and evolution. Evolution is entirely dependent on the creation of new offspring with new traits. If the old generation never died, then there would be no room, no resources, for the new generation. The species cannot change (evolve) if its members live forever.
2007-10-19 17:30:18 · answer #1 · answered by secretsauce 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because some microbes cause disease doesn't mean they are all bad. There's a whole lot more to it than that.
For example:
If it weren't for beneficial bacteria in your digestive system you wouldn't be able to digest and process food.
Without bacteria, nothing would rot so there would be garbage everywhere from the beginning of time.
Bacteria are just like any other living thing - some are beneficial, some are destructive and some are benign, but all fit somewhere into the ecological structure of life and have some function or other that keeps things going.
2007-10-19 01:59:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If some things didn't die, letting other things take over, it would be very difficult for new organisms to take hold, expand and spawn new organisms themselves.
Bacteria are not all bad. There are trillions of bacteria in your digestive system that help break down food so that you can digest it. Bacteria and fungi break down waste, fallen trees, dead animals; they are recyclers. If not for nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soil, trees would not be so abundant.
But even the bacteria which kill animals like us, helped to weed out the weak in the species. The strong survived and breed more stronger creatures.
2007-10-19 01:57:20 · answer #3 · answered by jared_e42 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Nothing on this earth is static. Everything is in a constant state of flux. In order for anything new to ever happen, the old must go away. If something is to become better, the things that are better have to become predominant in order for them to have a lasting impact. For this to happen, the older model has to be replaced. Think of computers, cell phones, or any other technology. They have evolved too. In order for the faster, slimmer, more efficient ones to become the most predominant, the clunky, ineffcient, slow ones have to be replaced.
2007-10-19 01:56:04 · answer #4 · answered by SurrepTRIXus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cause of all natural death is oxygen!!!
Ironic that we have to breathe it in order to survive and still die because of it. It lets our cells age just like it lets steel rust. The process is even the same and called the same.
2007-10-19 01:51:58 · answer #5 · answered by Marcus Paul 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If all things didn't die out naturally, there would be overpopulation. The world couldn't support that much.
2007-10-19 01:54:52 · answer #6 · answered by Debbie Queen of All ♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Why" is not a legitimate science question. "How" did this come about is more appropriate and often times makes the answer obvious when you think about "how" did this happen.
"Why" is more about philosophy and religion.
2007-10-19 04:57:50 · answer #7 · answered by Joan H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋