Thread: The beard: extra sterile?

I didn't know we had cilia!

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

About 40% of your body mass is something that is not human. Only about 10% of the DNA within that body mass is human. We could not function without the system that has developed as it has.

I could easily make the case that we, human animals, are the cruise ships of the microbiological world, but it's really true, to varying degrees, of all the mobile life on this planet regardless. I can also make the case that we, as sentient-self aware constructions, are probably giving the original designers the fits with our version (biological) of the artificial intelligence problem, but that's a whole 'nother discussion.

Our bodies are amazing that they achieve a balance between viral, fungal and bacteriological activity, and maintain it on a self-sustaining basis. When you get sick, the balance is out of kilter. There are so many active bacteria within, and in your example without, the body, it's astounding. That we don't get sick more often is equally amazing. That this all happens without any conscious mental activity to control the processes is real food for thought.

Our human system could not function if it was truly sterile.

And we'll never be invaded from outer space. Hence the movie
WAR OF THE WORLDS