Chapter 1.L2, Problem 1CT

What do you suppose the world would be like if there were cures for all infectious diseases and a means to destroy all microbes? What characteristics of microbes would prevent this from happening?

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

1. The scenario if cures for all infectious diseases were found and all microbes could be destroyed.
2. The characteristics of microbes that would prevent such a situation from happening.

Introduction:

Infectious diseases caused by micro-organisms are a cause of widespread mortality and morbidity. While some infectious diseases have been eradicated because of vaccination and antibiotics, many others still continue to prevail. Currently, almost 2000 different pathogens infect humans and cause diseases, and more than 10 billion infections are reported across the globe, each year. This is because antibiotics are ineffective against many micro-organisms. Such micro-organisms have devised strategies to counteract the effect of antibiotics, and are causing infections in humans.

Explanation of Solution

If we imagine a scenario where cures for all infectious diseases have been found, there would be a significant increase in the lifespan of humans. Consequently, humans will over-populate the earth and cause a tremendous pressure on natural resources. If all microbes would be destroyed, there would be drastic changes in ecosystems and natural processes. The oxygen content in the atmosphere would reduce to critical levels, because of absence of photosynthesizing bacteria. Decomposition and mineral recycling will cease, thereby making elements inaccessible to humans and plants. The levels of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane would go down, and this would make the temperature of the earth fall down severely. All these changes would in turn make earth inhabitable for humans, and threaten their existence.

The immense resistance of micro-organisms gives them the ability to thrive under extremes of temperature, salt content and pH, and in toxic wastelands, radioactive areas and even in volcanoes. They are able to adapt quickly and become drug-resistant, thereby making it difficult for us to destroy them.