Natures wonders: Poison and symbiosis (Introduction)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 21:52 (4600 days ago) @ David Turell

This is a fascinating article. The only part that bugs me is the way they bandy about their presuppositions of evolution. ->"They do this so effectively, that the worm has lost its entire digestive system, including its mouth and gut, during the course of evolution, and feeds only through its symbionts"->"The worm provides us with an example of the power of evolution. Over the course of millions of years, adaptation and selection have led to the development of an optimally adapted host-symbiont system. And these seemingly modest worms are an excellent model for a better understanding of other complex symbioses, such as those of the human gut", says Dubilier.-Do they have specimens of the worm WITH a digestive system, mouth, and gut, or is it just assumed sometime in the dim recesses of the past? How ironic that this worm is part of the world's natural filtration system, eating up greenhouse gasses that the rest of the living world produces.

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What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.