So it's basically survival of the fittest immune system evolution. Who's genetics can withstand rapid change in the mess of pathogens and non organic cultures which have been introduced into the environment so much more as of the past 100 years...Originally Posted by AntonLaVey
Originally Posted by torgriffith
What do you see happening to us as we evolve with pathogens being so prevalent? Like what type of evolution will this path lead us down?Originally Posted by AntonLaVey
Originally Posted by torgriffith
I was listening to a NPR story this morning with a guy talking about how the number of microbes on our bodies outnumber the number of cells we have by like 10 i think. He was saying how microbe interactions basically are the larger factor in how we change thru time, not so much on the pure.environmental stress side. He was also talking about fecal culture transplants to help heal people
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129862107
Yea it's kinda gross but our "normal flora". The bacteria that live on our body are actually protecting us from infections from more deadly forms of microbes. And in our intestines bacteria provide us with some essential nutrients, so it's a symbiotic relationship
Pathogenic bacteria on the other hand and us are literally in an evolutionary arms race. There's a reason why you need a new flu shot every year.Humans think they run this planet.
This is an interesting question because differences in "hygenic conditions" may be the biggest variant of human environmental stressors that could lead to genetic change and possible divergent evolution. The problem is there are very few isolated human populations in the world for this to be possible.
Using malaria as an example we have evidence of the strongly determinant effects of pathogens on our evolution. The sickle cell trait evolved as a defense to malaria . Who else knows how else our genes are changing overtime in response to our other prominent microscopic foes (Eg. the H.I.V. virus). There will eventually be a subset of populations, most likely in places where the affliction is endemic (Africa), that will be resistant to the virus. I suspect this resistance would come with dire consequences as did the sickle cell trait (probably congenital immuno-insufficency).
So it's basically survival of the fittest immune system evolution. Who's genetics can withstand rapid change in the mess of pathogens and non organic cultures which have been introduced into the environment so much more as of the past 100 years...Originally Posted by AntonLaVey
Originally Posted by torgriffith
What do you see happening to us as we evolve with pathogens being so prevalent? Like what type of evolution will this path lead us down?Originally Posted by AntonLaVey
Originally Posted by torgriffith
I was listening to a NPR story this morning with a guy talking about how the number of microbes on our bodies outnumber the number of cells we have by like 10 i think. He was saying how microbe interactions basically are the larger factor in how we change thru time, not so much on the pure.environmental stress side. He was also talking about fecal culture transplants to help heal people
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129862107
Yea it's kinda gross but our "normal flora". The bacteria that live on our body are actually protecting us from infections from more deadly forms of microbes. And in our intestines bacteria provide us with some essential nutrients, so it's a symbiotic relationship
Pathogenic bacteria on the other hand and us are literally in an evolutionary arms race. There's a reason why you need a new flu shot every year.Humans think they run this planet.
This is an interesting question because differences in "hygenic conditions" may be the biggest variant of human environmental stressors that could lead to genetic change and possible divergent evolution. The problem is there are very few isolated human populations in the world for this to be possible.
Using malaria as an example we have evidence of the strongly determinant effects of pathogens on our evolution. The sickle cell trait evolved as a defense to malaria . Who else knows how else our genes are changing overtime in response to our other prominent microscopic foes (Eg. the H.I.V. virus). There will eventually be a subset of populations, most likely in places where the affliction is endemic (Africa), that will be resistant to the virus. I suspect this resistance would come with dire consequences as did the sickle cell trait (probably congenital immuno-insufficency).
