Comments on: The Parasite Colossus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2008/07/25/the-parasite-colossus/ A blog about life, past and future. Written by DISCOVER contributing editor and columnist Carl Zimmer. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:29:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: L. Spears http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2008/07/25/the-parasite-colossus/#comment-8470 L. Spears Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:48:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2008/07/25/the-parasite-colossus/#comment-8470 Carl, Two Questions: 1. Is it not true that "parasite" is like the definition of "weed" in my garden, in the eye of the farmer? As I age, I change and reduce the list of "weeds" to accommodate my capacities. Parasite seems a fluid and relative category. 2. What is the weight of parasites in the human body? Assuming a definition of "parasite", are we not mostly parasites, even if not rendered reproductively unfit? Thanks, Carl,

Two Questions:
1. Is it not true that “parasite” is like the definition of “weed” in my garden, in the eye of the farmer? As I age, I change and reduce the list of “weeds” to accommodate my capacities. Parasite seems a fluid and relative category.
2. What is the weight of parasites in the human body? Assuming a definition of “parasite”, are we not mostly parasites, even if not rendered reproductively unfit?
Thanks,

]]> By: Carl Zimmer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2008/07/25/the-parasite-colossus/#comment-8434 Carl Zimmer Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:39:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2008/07/25/the-parasite-colossus/#comment-8434 Pivotalthoughts: I give several talks each year. You can see a list of my past stuff (including some video) here: http://carlzimmer.com/talks.html Just get in touch if you want to talk further about this. Pivotalthoughts: I give several talks each year. You can see a list of my past stuff (including some video) here: http://carlzimmer.com/talks.html

Just get in touch if you want to talk further about this.

]]> By: pivotalthought http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2008/07/25/the-parasite-colossus/#comment-8432 pivotalthought Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:59:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2008/07/25/the-parasite-colossus/#comment-8432 Hey Carl do you give speeches and talks about the Environment at schools/ colleges? It would be nice to have you and others at Discover out here to enlighten the community of youth. Whom would I talk to to arrange sometrhing like this? I am meeting with the DVC campus President soon to discuss more enlightening changes we the students would like to see. Currently we are working on creating a multicultural community center that may be one of the first in the nation to appear at a JC. Hey Carl do you give speeches and talks about the Environment at schools/ colleges? It would be nice to have you and others at Discover out here to enlighten the community of youth. Whom would I talk to to arrange sometrhing like this? I am meeting with the DVC campus President soon to discuss more enlightening changes we the students would like to see. Currently we are working on creating a multicultural community center that may be one of the first in the nation to appear at a JC.

]]> By: EastwoodDC http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2008/07/25/the-parasite-colossus/#comment-8431 EastwoodDC Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:30:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2008/07/25/the-parasite-colossus/#comment-8431 Measuring the relative biomass is the most obvious and simple way to look at this, but you have me wondering if this is the correct way. The relative genetic diversity of parasitic species compared to their prey might be another metric, though species count is also problematic (I read your article on that too). Measuring the relative biomass is the most obvious and simple way to look at this, but you have me wondering if this is the correct way. The relative genetic diversity of parasitic species compared to their prey might be another metric, though species count is also problematic (I read your article on that too).

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