What term describes the relationship between humans and their intestinal bacteria?
Saturday, November 28th, 2009 at
11:52 am
What term describes the relationship between humans and their intestinal bacteria?
- Mutualism
- Parasitism
- Commensalism
- Predation
* I am pretty sure the answer would be commensalism but I am not very sure…
Filed under: Colon Cleanse
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Mutualism
To get the answer to this question, you have to know the definitions of the four terms. Mutualism is a relationship where both parties involved benefit. Parasitism is where just one of the two parties benefits, and the other is harmed. Commensalism is where one party benefits, while the other is unaffected. Predation is an interaction where a predator feeds on its prey.
In the case of humans and intestinal bacteria, both parties are benefiting from this interaction. Through intestinal bacteria, humans are able to digest certain foods they would otherwise not be able to (similar to bacteria in a termite’s gut allowing it to digest cellulose). Also, the presence of these bacteria prevent other, noxious bacteria from being able to settle and grow. On the other side, intestinal bacteria are provided with a warm environment and constant food source in the intestines.
commensalism- but couldn’t you look it up on your own on an online dictionary?
Mutualism
this is so because E. Coli which is the predominant bacteria in the intestines feed of nutrient for their benefit and produce vitamin K for our benefit
it’s not commensalism because we as the host benefit as well as the bacteria
a commensalist relationship is more like staphylococcus aureus and our skin.
they’re just there to live and we as a result are not affected by it.