As most bacteria evolve to a less deatly version of itself to promote spreading, why hasn’t TB evolved to a more harmless bacteria? It’s so old, so there was plenty of time. Killing the host seems pointless in a evolutionary sense.
Thanks!
In: Biology
TB has evolved closer to harmlessness. It replicates extremely slowly and the human immune response is to basically lock it up inside an egg with a bunch of food. Doesn’t kill it outright but it is a hell of a band aid since it will take decades for them bust out.
And that’s why it takes decades for TB to actually kill you once contracted. Even once it is in its active stage you can live with it for as long as 15 years if left untreated. That’s a hell of a lot of coughing and sneezing to spread the shit around.
Latest Answers