Nature Knows 04 - Bdelloid Rotifers Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon
Nature Knows 04 - Bdelloid Rotifers
For millions of years,
microscopic animals ‘rotifers'
have been ‘picking up' DNA
from their surroundings.
A freshwater rotifer,
named bdelloid rotifer
‘steal' genes from bacteria
and other microbes.
When the rotifer is challenged
with a fungal pathogen,
some of these genes produce
antibiotics and anti microbial agents
These genes undergo evolution
in the rotifer and are equipped
to produce very effective
antimicrobials seen nowhere else.
Maybe rotifers provide answers
for man's hunt for new drugs
to treat newer infections
caused by bacteria and fungi.
An ever so Hopeful poem! .. Endless 10'S And Stars! ..++++++++++++++++++++++++
My mother used to tell us that Nature created everything, even the lowliest grass weed with a purpose. Now I understand. Thank you Becca
Excellently written! .. May we Pray they find the new drugs needed to treat new infections! ..
When Nature endowed Man with a larger brain, She gave some other powers to other animals and plants. So that man can learn and make use of such interesting and useful phenomena
A very informative and thoughtful write. I concur with your ultimate stanza. It could provide solutions to newer infections. Well presented and written.
A simple solution invented by nature to protect the most vulnerable microscopic animals. Thus they have survived over 25 million years on earth, without much evolutionary advantage
Bdelloid Rotifers feed on bacteria, fungii etc. Unlike other animals, they "steal" some useful genes from such ‘food' and make them part of their genetics, often slightly modified.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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3/17/2026 9:14:14 PM # 1.0.0
I agree with Rose-Marie it was very informative Bravo! ! ! !
While man prides himself that he has discovered the ‘newest thing' about Bdelloid Rotifers, he forgets the Nature ‘invented' it millions of years ago. Thank you LeeAnn.