Adaptive Bacteria
A video on the TED website called "Is It Really That Bad to Eat Cookie Dough?" is about the adaptive bacteria called salmonella. Salmonella is a very common bacteria that is built to survive in all conditions until it reaches a suitable host to thrive in.
The article explains how poor farming practices can be a breeding ground for salmonella. The bacteria travels through animal feces and enter the animals. It infects the meat and if it enters a chicken then the bird's eggs are infected as well. While eggs and meat are being processed, they are exposed to frigid temperatures and unstable conditions while being transported, yet the bacteria survive. Then the meat is cooked, and the eggs are baked into goodies, then when consumed the bacteria floods the digestive track. Salmonella covers itself with protective enzymes to survive traveling through the stomach acid. The text states, "But once again, the bacteria detect these changes with built in sensors" (Bryce). Meaning, once the salmonella clears the stomach and enters the small intestine the infected persons body summons white blood cells to fight off the intruding bacteria, and the salmonella detects it before the attack. This is when the affected person starts to show symptoms of sickness. While the person feels uncomfortable during this time it is just their body battling and expelling the bacteria.
Through the salmonella's difficult journey, it has many defenses to help it survive. Only for it to be finally stopped by the human body's superior defenses. It is impressive how such a small bacteria can be so resilient to survive freezing and boiling temperatures. However, it is a good reminder to make sure all meat is handled and cooked properly and not to consume raw eggs.
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