• Question: is there microscopic living things in our organs

    Asked by chris_brown my G to Craig, Marta, Natalie, Nicholas on 15 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: Marta Varela

      Marta Varela answered on 15 Mar 2017:

      Guts have bacteria (a type of microscopic living things) that live in them. They are really important to us (they make vitamins, for example).

      All organs are made of cells, which I guess are also microscopic living things… Does that count?

    • Photo: Craig O'Hare

      Craig O'Hare answered on 15 Mar 2017:

      Our bodies contain a lot of bacteria and viruses in our digestive system. These bacteria actually help us digest food and make vitamins for us in return. They also take up space that harmful bacteria would otherwise occupy.

      Inside our cells we have an organelle called a mitochondria. We use it to make energy for our cells. Some scientists believe that mitochondria are actually ancient bacteria and that cells evolved together with them, giving them shelter in return for energy. This is called endosymbiosis theory. Similarly some believe plants did the same with chloroplasts, which allow them to photosynthesise.

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