This week’s podcast discusses two subjects that increasingly capture the interest of scientists: self-medication in animals and parasites. I suspect that some people would consider it a tragedy that these natural medications only eliminate the majority of the parasites. But is this necessarily true?
If we take a more encompassing ecological view of nature it becomes reasonable to ask why, if parasites have no redeeming value whatsoever, they’ve survived over the eons. Could their benefits to their hosts exceed the costs? Could their presence have implications for human and animal health? Consider the double life of the oft maligned whipworm.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More