Today I learned

[firecat]

Today I learned “there are more species that live as parasites than are free-living.”

So says Jerome Groopman in his article ”In Praise of Parasites?” in The New Yorker.

“There is something about parasites that arouses appalled fascination”: He’s speaking for me. He’s writing about the book Parasites: The Inside Story by Scott Gardner, Judy Diamond, and Gabor Racz (Princeton).

The authors approach parasites with “a more scientifically nuanced view,” describing how they co-evolved with hosts over time and how they fit into existing ecosystems, according to Groopman.

I love this kind of book, that talks about how life is so much more interconnected than we ever used to think. In the case of parasites, I feel a kinship because it’s always vaguely troubled me that as an animal, I need to eat other life to survive.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I am appalled and fascinated! Sounds like a good book.

[silveradept]

Parasitism is very important to the ecosystem. We tend to focus on the bad parts of it, because they get in our way or kill the things we were relying on. Sounds like a fun book to read for those who won't be grossed out by the idea of parasites being that common.