A World Within Our World..

Microbes! We may not be able to see them with our naked eyes but they still live with us or even within us.  Some of them look beautiful like an art work of a famous artist filled with vibrant colors but some are really disgusting with their not so attractive framework. They are also the biggest killers, according to the World Health Organization; a new disease emerges every four months, with poorer countries being the worst hit. Malaria and tuberculosis have killed millions over centuries, and swine flu, bird flu, ebola and the newest bug on the block, congo haemorrhagic fever, can sweep through populations rapidly, sickening and killing a few hundreds within months before disappearing to make way for a new wave of infection.

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But at the same time they are life giving,  they help us in fighting thousands of diseases. You might have seen a small bottle of Yakult drink which contains millions of live bacteria. It may sound like a disgusting thing to eat or drink millions of bacteria but surprisingly it does wonders for your digestive system. They live on us or within us and do whatever they can to protect us from any invasion.

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The next question comes in my mind that, are these microbes social in nature like us? Do they talk to each other? Are they altruistic?

According to Bonnie Bassler, a researcher from Princeton University; bacteria can talk to each  other. Not only can they talk, but they are multilingual. Bassler and her colleagues have examined the molecule in atomic detail and seen what it looks like when it is clasped by its appropriate sensory protein- the “ear” that allows bacterial cells to hear the molecule’s cry. Molecular communication allows 600 different species of bacteria to organize themselves into the slimy dental plaque that leads to tooth decay!

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Altruism in  general is an interesting concept from an evolutionary perspective. As defined by Dictionary.com, altruism is “the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to  the welfare of others.” To understand the altruistic behavior among the bacteria, let us think of why human beings do good deed. Simply because we like “making someone’s day” but there must be a deeper motive at play. Human behaviors have evolved over thousands  of generations and don’t persist until they support our survival.

So what can science teach us about why altruism comes so naturally to microbes? Good deeds generate powerful emotions in the do gooder and researchers believe it’s an evolutionary reward. Performing an act of kindness produces a positive attitude and enhances well being and self esteem.

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I have used the analogy of human behavior in the study of microorganism’s communication and it may seem to be a futuristic idea

or  may open new vistas of knowledge and understanding of the world of microbes within our world or elsewhere. And maybe explain why organisms we cannot even see, leave alone thank, contribute to our well-being.

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