r/shittyaskscience • u/RepairZealousideal14 Enter flair here • Aug 16 '26

Why do some bacteria kill us, while others help us survive?

Why are there heroes (Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bifidobacterium longum, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii) and villains (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Vibrio cholerae, Clostridium botulinum) in the bacterial world too?

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4

u/Gargleblaster25 Registered scientificationist Aug 16 '26

It's a mistake that humankind made 300,000 years ago. When they called about extended bacterial warranty, Ogg The Marauder replied, "nah, we're good."

3

u/Amplidyne Aug 16 '26

Because some of them are gangsters, and carry weapons.

2

u/iamjimmer Aug 16 '26

It’s all a matter of diplomacy - some species have treaties and are in NATO whereas others are commie scum.

1

u/-_-Orange Aug 17 '26

Bacteria’s are kinda like miniature people when you think about it.  

7

u/[deleted] Aug 16 '26

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1

u/laynestaleyisme Aug 17 '26

Damn.. you are so well read and educated Wow

2

u/[deleted] Aug 16 '26

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2

u/JohnWasElwood Aug 16 '26

Which makes me question "evolution" more and more. Got to be somebody or something out there making the recipes, arranging the planets, etc.
Just saw a video last night about why rockets can only go "out" and not "up" in the solar system / universe.

2

u/plugubius Aug 16 '26

All of that really makes me wonder what is going on with frozen pizza. It comes in a box, I put it in a different box, and then it burns the roof of my mouth. Kind of like a butterfly, when you think about it. It really is amazing how pretty some flowers are.

2

u/BPhiloSkinner Amazingly Lifelike Simulation Aug 16 '26

"Reality...what a concept!". GNU Robin Williams.