BILD 3 Lecture 11: 2-10-17 lecture notes 11
Document Summary
Prokaryotes are so important to the biosphere that if they were to disappear the prospects for any other life surviving would be dim. Prokaryotes play a major role in the continual recycling of chemical elements between the living and nonliving components of the environment in ecosystems. Nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes add usable nitrogen to the environment. Many prokaryotes live with other organisms in symbiotic relationships such as mutualism and commensalism. Prokaryotes have both harmful and beneficial impacts on humans. Some prokaryotes are human pathogens: but many others have positive interactions with humans. Prokaryotes cause about half of all human diseases: lyme disease is an example. May reduce the incidence of lyme disease. Infected ticks feed on blood of the lizards: lyme disease bacteria are destroyed. Western fence lizard range: 5% of ticks carry the disease, other areas 50% of ticks carry the disease. Pathogenic prokaryotes typically cause disease: by releasing exotoxins or endotoxins. Many pathogenic bacteria: are potential weapons of bioterrorism.
