• Question: How do diseases start?

    Asked by crouchingmurloc to Ben, Dave, Ed, Sam, Susana on 18 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Benjamin Hall

      Benjamin Hall answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      A disease can mean a variety of things. In humans it can be a physical or mental disease. A mental disease might start because of a chemical imbalance in the brain or because of a very traumatic experience. Physical disease might be brought on by something like a bacteria or virus affecting our body in some way. Bacteria often produce toxins which make us feel sick and viruses like HIV can replicate inside our cells and then destroy them.

      Some diseases, like Cancer, may have genetic origins and we’re simply predisposed to getting them. Or they may be brought on by lifestyle choices like drinking, smoking or not protecting yourself from the sun.

      Plants can’t get mental diseases and I’ve never heard of one getting a genetic disease. However, plants are constantly under attack from bacteria, viruses, fungi and oomycetes, just like us.

    • Photo: David Briggs

      David Briggs answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      That depends on the disease.

      Infections by pathogens (bacteria, viruses, etc) happens when you first contact the pathogen.

      Cancers etc start when the cells get damaged and start replicating out of control.

      Diseases that involve wear and tear basically start as soon as you stop growing.

    • Photo: Sam Horrell

      Sam Horrell answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      Lots of different ways!

      Some come about by bacteria that invades the body and spread and grow. Some can be from bacteria that are already in your body which end up in the wrong part of your body or get out of control when the immune system is weakened. Many symptoms of disease can even come from your own immune system, fever for example is your body body fighting an infection.

      other diseases can come about by genetic mutations, these can either develop over time like in cancers or you can be born with them, like cystic fibrosis.

      Disease really is a fascinating topic, not only how pathogens get around the immune system but how the immune system itself works.

    • Photo: Susana Teixeira

      Susana Teixeira answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      You get the point from the previous answers, there are unfortunately many ways!
      A disease is something that disturbs what is considered the normal functioning of an organism, like a plant or an animal. Diseases can come from external factors to the organism, like a virus or UV light, or they can come in our genes when they do not produce an enzyme correctly and so a vital function is lost.

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