Infestation! The incredible images that show the Alien-esque Life Forms that make up 90% of our bodi

We are only 10% human the rest is pure microbe, reveals microbiologist

Computer artwork of bacteria (blue and green) on human skin. Many types of bacteria are found on human skin, especially associated with sweat glands and hair follicles.

You may think these alien-looking bacteria would be unwelcome guests, but these lifeforms actually make up 90 per cent of the living cells in our bodies. As these incredible CGI images show, the human body is home to trillions of weird and wonderful lifeforms. Tube shaped e.coli use their three tails to swim vigorously up and down our guts, while salmonella which are famous for food poisoning scares live happily on our skin with no ill effects to us.

A magnified conceptual visualization of multiple coccus bacteria on a cellular surface. It refers to any round-shaped bacteria. Each single coccus bacterium is an entire living organism.

Our relationship with the single-celled friends is so strong that some scientist have come to regard us and our hitchhikers as one human-bacteria super-organism. Cork Institute of Technology lecturer, Dr Roy D. Sleator, 36, from County Kerry in Ireland, has spent the last four years studying the subject. 'Bacteria have now come to be regarded as a virtual organ with the combined output far in excess of the liver,' said Dr Roy.

'Until recently the true role of our native bacterial populations was largely overlooked. However, new analysis of all the DNA from the environment has revealed the true diversity and utility of our microbial populations. 'Indeed, the human gut alone contains almost four and a half pounds of bacteria.'

Computer artwork of swimming bacteria. e.Coli uses three tails to swim up and down our guts

The fact that we are so outnumbered ten to one by our bacteria guests may sound worrying to many. But Dr Sleator is clear that the bacteria are here for our benefit - and without them we would not survive long.

'We are in essence only ten percent human - the rest is pure microbe,' said Dr Sleator. 'This bacterial-human interaction is for the most part symbiotic. Which means in return for food and board the bacteria help with digestion, vitamin production and bolstering our innate immune system. 'They protect us against infection by pathogens - so called bad bacteria. 'Animals that are bred to have no bacteria are far more susceptible to infection and have a reduced life expectancy compared to wild animals. 'This illustrates the important role of our bacteria.

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk...

How about a Big Old--- Ewwwwwww. Nice to know stuff.

You know, the whole article is right. When you really think about it. We are just a big mess of mixed up things.

Makes you wonder if there really is anyone or anything out there like us Humans. The conditions would have to be so perfect and matching to come up with us Humans.

Makes me wonder if Aliens do exist. I guess they could but the chances of a being developing like we have and as intelligent as we are becoming.... I don't know anymore.

I really didn't think this thread would make me think this way but fact are facts...

Anyway...... enjoy (more images at the main article.

Oh no. did anyone else get this weird uncomfortable feeling while reading this? almost like the microbes where suddenly aware i new they were there!

Hey so am i reading this right? Only 10% of the cells in my body are mine/human. Thats means all my skin cells, blood cells and all the cells making up my internal organs just account for 10% the rest are bactiria? Thats crazy if i understood that right. but really cool. jut like how insects play there role on this massive planet.

S&F

reply to post by anon72


Its amazing that we are in effect,not a single organism,but a hive/colony of many different critters all living in the same space.
Even "our" DNA isn't all "ours"-the mitochodria DNA sort of piggybacked onto ours way back.

Life can be stranger than fiction.

I feel like a bacteria on the Earth so maybe we are still look not looking at the big picture
which would be the earth is the ultimate organism and we should be in symbiosis with it.

Cool images, I guess their is no other way to see three dimensional versions of
these critters without computer graphics. Thanks for the info.

reply to post by anon72


I guess if the microbes all stopped holding hands we would just fall apart!

-Alien

Like are the experts just finding this out? because we have had powerful microscopes for some time now I mean this is the first time I have heard of this. This really changes my perspective on as the OP mentioned the evolution of life.

Also a feeling I had when I was reading this was a feeling of vulnerability. I mean what happens if something in our environment, some change in our environment causes some of our vital little helpers to become deceased? We all know how the balance of nature is delicate. And now I learn that this delicate balance is intertwined and interwoven with us.

That is what gives me the uncomfortable feeling because I know how we humans like to abuse our environment What happens if we tip the balance ever so slightly and make extinct just a few random microbes? And one of those microbes just happen to be one of the 500 that we depend on for our survival? Food for thought.

-Alien

So these are fake images for one.

And for two I thought the human body was like 75% water.

reply to post by jjkenobi


They are DRAWINGS so what?

It is 75% water. I says that 90% of our LIVING tissue is microbes.

-Alien

Thanks for making me itch uncontrollably!

Actually these are really nice graphics. The symbiosis that takes place under our radar is amazing.

Here is a picture taken with an electron microscope of bacteria with even smaller bacteria growing on them.




www.hubbardbrook.org...

I guess Jonathan Swift was right:

"So nat'ralists observe, a flea
Hath smaller fleas that on him prey,
And these have smaller fleas that bite 'em,
And so proceed ad infinitum."

Great post - very interesting. Would be nice to see other published documents on this other than the noted source - preliminary search says this Dr. Sleator at least researches engineered microbes (another story there).

Maybe they will also find that these microbes have even smaller microbes living on them.

...with even smaller bacteria growing on them...

thanks Sparky!

It's just utterly fascinating how much influence they have on us. S/F

Welcome to my 2 unequal halves.

Synergism.

We're a walking experiment. We were grown, not created.

Kind of makes one think twice about taking antibiotics without necessity.

Now this is cool.

Anyone care to speculate what new theories other scientist may come up with because of this discovery, and what the future of the theory of evolution may be? After some more testing and verification it seems like we will be one step closer to proving that we actually don't know.

EEEuuuuu....I feel sssooo dirty now...........

I'm going over to my girlfriends place......

Originally posted by anon72

You may think these alien-looking bacteria would be unwelcome guests, but these lifeforms actually make up 90 per cent of the living cells in our bodies.

Good thread!

90% by number, but not 90% by mass, right? I wonder what percent by mass?

These things are tiny.

Originally posted by Alien Abduct
They are DRAWINGS so what?

There are good photos so I'm not sure why they had to use drawings. Here's a great photo of bacteria on a tongue:

www.rense.com...
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/f02588be55d7.jpg[/atsimg]

It is 75% water. I says that 90% of our LIVING tissue is microbes.

No, that's not what it says, at least not by weight which is implied by your statement.

When I saw the title I thought this thread might be about the larger creatures we're infested with. Hopefully nobody has these now but we did have an epidemic in my school which I managed to escape:

Head louse clinging to a human hair.jpg
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/b3cbb41e2628.jpg[/atsimg]

And most people look at me funny when I tell them about these little creatures related to spiders that infest most of us, apparently a lot of people don't even realize this. They burrow into hair follicles and feed off the oils we secrete. The first photo shows a hair follicle with one hair sticking out, plus 3 tails of mites that have burrowed in. Most of us have them, they are harmless unless you get way too many of them:

Eyelash Mites
www.jenhiggins.com...
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/c3635ab5d1d7.jpg[/atsimg]

This guy found them on his nose and took pictures:
waynesword.palomar.edu...

Here's a video:

Some examples of the numerous life forms living on our body made visible by scanning electron microscopes.


You really can't get too creeped out about this stuff, most of these things are harmless or helpful, except things like the head lice, you don't want those.

It kind of makes Gulliver's travels almost like a real story except we're the giants and there are tiny little creatures who see us that way. Well, not exactly, but it is kind of thought provoking.

And look at the bright side. As the video says, you never need to feel lonely again!

reply to post by Arbitrageur


annnd now i cant go to sleep....


nice pics makes me want to go buy a microscope and look at my hand.
and im pretty certain i dont have head lice! well not since year 4.

Nah, after reading this I went to the bathroom, did not wash my hands, licked my fingers and then made out with some door knobs.

Interesting find though.

Originally posted by Alien Abduct
reply to post by jjkenobi

 

They are DRAWINGS so what?

It is 75% water. I says that 90% of our LIVING tissue is microbes.

-Alien

edit on 5/20/2011 by Alien Abduct because: (no reason given)

Also keep in mind that the cytoplasm inside of the cells is mostly water as well.
It has been said that the human body is something like 6% carbon, 1.2% iron as well (numbers guessed). Keep in mind that these chemicals are in use by the cells in our body.

Cytoplasm from wikipedia.
Reference to water is in the third paragraph.

I don't know if your replys are making me crack up more..

Of sickened.... lol

Some great thoughts though.

I like the one about being more careful with the anti-biotics you might take. Basically, killing yourself.. ugh.