Changes

A '''parasite''' is a living organism that depends upon another organism for its continued survival. Parasitism is a form of one-sided [[symbiosis]] where the parasite benefits and the host is harmed. While it used to be thought that parasites were very simple creatures generally with little impact on their [[ecosystem|ecosystems]];<ref>"Only now are scientists thinking seriously about how parasites may be as important to ecosystems as lions and leopards."(xxi-xxii) "Carl Zimmer's ''Parasite Rex''</ref> however, biologists now understand that parasites can be very sophisticated, precisely created to take advantage of their hosts and that parasites can have significant effects on their environment and on their host's life. A common parasite in humans is [[Toxoplasmosis]], and [[Malaria]].<ref>Carl Zimmer's ''Parasite Rex''</ref>

A '''parasite''' is a living organism that depends upon another organism for its continued survival. Parasitism is a form of one-sided [[symbiosis]] where the parasite benefits and the host is harmed. While it used to be thought that parasites were very simple creatures generally with little impact on their [[ecosystem|ecosystems]];<ref>"Only now are scientists thinking seriously about how parasites may be as important to ecosystems as lions and leopards."(xxi-xxii) "Carl Zimmer's ''Parasite Rex''</ref> however, biologists now understand that parasites can be very sophisticated, precisely created to take advantage of their hosts and that parasites can have significant effects on their environment and on their host's life. A common parasite in humans is [[Toxoplasmosis]], and [[Malaria]].<ref>Carl Zimmer's ''Parasite Rex''</ref>

Unlike many bacterias and viruses, Parasites can have extremely long lifespans; Tapeworms, for example, can life up to 10 years, or more, in a host.

Unlike many bacterias and viruses, parasites can have extremely long lifespans; tapeworms, for example, can life up to 10 years, or more, in a host.

[[Young Earth Creationism|Young earth creationists]] see parasites, along with diseases, as coming about as a result of [[Adam]]'s [[sin]] against [[God]] and are one of the problems that arose on Earth because of the beginning of sin.<ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-c026.html</ref><ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/death_suffering.asp</ref>  For example, [[virus|viruses]] are categorized as [[Obligate Intracellular parasite|obligate intracellular parasites]], and are ‘infectious particles’ rather than organisms.<ref>http://www.trueorigin.org/virus.asp</ref> [[Creation science|Creation scientist]] Dr. [[Jerry Bergman]] asserts that  [[God]] did not make [[Pathogenic virus|pathogenic viruses]] and that it is a result of a post [[Fall of Man|fall]] world.<ref>http://www.trueorigin.org/virus.asp</ref>  Dr. Bergman states that in relation to pathogenic viruses that "[[pathogenesis]] is evidence of something gone wrong, a [[mutation]] or the accidental movement of [[gene]]s, and not evidence of a system deliberately designed to cause human [[disease]] and suffering.<ref>http://www.trueorigin.org/virus.asp</ref>

[[Young Earth Creationism|Young earth creationists]] see parasites, along with diseases, as coming about as a result of [[Adam]]'s [[sin]] against [[God]] and are one of the problems that arose on Earth because of the beginning of sin.<ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-c026.html</ref><ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/death_suffering.asp</ref>  For example, [[virus|viruses]] are categorized as [[Obligate Intracellular parasite|obligate intracellular parasites]], and are ‘infectious particles’ rather than organisms.<ref>http://www.trueorigin.org/virus.asp</ref> [[Creation science|Creation scientist]] Dr. [[Jerry Bergman]] asserts that  [[God]] did not make [[Pathogenic virus|pathogenic viruses]] and that it is a result of a post [[Fall of Man|fall]] world.<ref>http://www.trueorigin.org/virus.asp</ref>  Dr. Bergman states that in relation to pathogenic viruses that "[[pathogenesis]] is evidence of something gone wrong, a [[mutation]] or the accidental movement of [[gene]]s, and not evidence of a system deliberately designed to cause human [[disease]] and suffering.<ref>http://www.trueorigin.org/virus.asp</ref>