How do diseases affect an ecosystem?
How do diseases affect an ecosystem?
How do diseases affect an ecosystem?
An ecosystem with lots of variation (genetic diversity and diversity of species) is more resilient to the impacts of disease because there are greater possibilities that some species have evolved resistance, or if a species is lost, there will likely be another species to fill the niche of an extinct species.
What are disease causing organisms?
A variety of microorganisms can cause disease. Pathogenic organisms are of five main types: viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and worms. Some common pathogens in each group are listed in the column on the right.
How do infectious diseases affect health?
Most infectious diseases have only minor complications. But some infections — such as pneumonia, AIDS and meningitis — can become life-threatening. A few types of infections have been linked to a long-term increased risk of cancer: Human papillomavirus is linked to cervical cancer.
How are microbes harmful to the human body?
A few harmful microbes, for example less than 1% of bacteria, can invade our body (the host) and make us ill. Microbes cause infectious diseases such as flu and measles. There is also strong evidence that microbes may contribute to many non–infectious chronic diseases such as some forms of cancer and coronary heart disease.
Are there any diseases that only affect humans?
Humans, other animals, and plants are all susceptible to diseases of some sort. However, that which disrupts the normal functioning of one type of organism may have no effect on the other types.
How are infection and disease related in the human body?
An infection is the invasion and multiplication of pathogenic microbes in an individual or population. Disease is when the infection causes damage to the individual’s vital functions or systems. An infection does not always result in disease! To cause an infection, microbes must enter our bodies.
How does disease affect the homeostasis of an organism?
Disease affects an organism by disrupting the organism’s homeostasis. Homeostasis is the process by which an organism maintains a steady internal environment (stable body temperature, blood sugar level, electrolyte balance, etc.). A disease will disrupt this process.
Humans, other animals, and plants are all susceptible to diseases of some sort. However, that which disrupts the normal functioning of one type of organism may have no effect on the other types.
Disease affects an organism by disrupting the organism’s homeostasis. Homeostasis is the process by which an organism maintains a steady internal environment (stable body temperature, blood sugar level, electrolyte balance, etc.). A disease will disrupt this process.
Why is it important to know the causes of disease?
Correctly identifying the cause of a disease is necessary to identifying the proper course of treatment. Humans, other animals, and plants are all susceptible to diseases of some sort. However, that which disrupts the normal functioning of one type of organism may have no effect on the other types.
How does an infectious agent cause a disease?
An infectious agent is simply an organism that is capable of getting past your defenses and then living/growing inside or you. Bacteria rarely, if ever, cause disease merely by being present. Even the virulence factors they produce to help them invade the body often do little real harm. Virulence factors are normally enzymes.