Concept
Statements |
Emphasis
in
your teaching
|
General
importance
|
| 1.
There is a multidimensional continuum between organisms. It varies
from organisms that live in close proximity but have
discernable effect on one another, to organisms that
benefit or suffer as a result of their interactions. |
|
|
| 2.
Some interactions between organisms are transient, for
example predator/prey or host/pathogen. Other relationships
are permanent or prolonged; these are known as
symbiotic relationships. |
|
|
| 3.
Symbiotic relationships can be characterized in terms
of benefit and cost to each of the organisms involved.
Mutualism indicates
that both organisms benefit; Commensalism involves
benefit to one but no serious harm to the other; Amensalism involves
harm to one but no significant benefit to the other while Parasitism involves
benefit to one and significant harm to the other. |
|
|
| 4.
We can think of the pathogen/host relationship as an
extreme form of parasitism, cut short by the death of
the host or the elimination of the pathogen by the host's
immune system. |
|
|
| 5.There
are many modern examples of endosymbiosis,
in which one organism lives within the confines of the
cells of another. |
|
|
| 6.
The function of the immune
system is to recognize foreign organisms
and viruses and to eliminate them from the host's body. |
|
|
| 7.
The immune system does not always function perfectly,
or it may over-react to a benign organism or situation
-- this can lead to autoimmune
disease. |
|
|