On 9 Sep 2001, at 9:41, Nick Arnett wrote:
> [snip]
>
> > AT the smalest levels, you can look at our gut bacteria for a
> > mutralistic relationship. We get vitamen K and the protection them
> > simply being there (they prevent colonisation by pathogenic
> > bacteria), and they get protection and nutrients from what we eat in
> > return. Is it both good for both and selfish for both in this
> > context.
>
> And we don't have a "100% genetic relatedness" with them, yet they are
> an utterly essential part of us. Ditto with mitochondria.
AHA! Well..
Your gut bacteria are NOT entirely benign tho. Like your normal
skin flora, if yu immune system is depressed for some reason,
then you can have an opportunistic infection from them.
So it's not really symbiotic (neither side hurts the other), it's
mutralistic..if they have the chance, they WILL infect you...
As to mitochondia (and indeed chloroplasts in plants), this is the
BIG symbiotic relationship, which must have arrisen *millions* of
years ago. We are totallt dependent on them, and they on us - it's
not really selfish or altrustic though, as they are essentially a part
of ourselves.
Andy
Dawn Falcon
