• Question: If other creatures in the animal kingdom have adapted to certain diseases, why can't we adapt to some that we are affected by?

    Asked by Obiora to Carmen, Daniel, Laura, Noel, Steph on 17 Mar 2015. This question was also asked by AB.
    • Photo: Carmen Denman

      Carmen Denman answered on 17 Mar 2015:

      Hi Poppy.Tully!
      Great question. Even though we are so similar at a genetic level, from for example apes/monkeys, we do have different antibodies, ways of initiating the immune system from birth, exposure to very different types of pathogens, etc…

      Also, bacteria/virus/fungi/parasites have very specific niches sometimes – for example monkeys can’t contract HIV but they contract something almost identical (that we can’t contract) which is called SIV. Sometimes these pathogen specific niches stay put, and other times they move fluidly between species thanks to the pathogens’ ability to adapt to host defenses.

    • Photo: Noel Carter

      Noel Carter answered on 17 Mar 2015:

      I guess we are constantly adapting and constantly evolving to battle new bacteria and viruses. We are actually pretty good at it most of the time.

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