Successful parasite

[Navin]

I need help for this question which really stumped me.

A successful parasite is one that:
A benefits its host
B does little damage to its host
C kills its host
D lives longer than its host

[victor]

Just determine what is the definition of 'paracyte', then you'll find the answer on you own.. good luck..

[Navin]

I would go with B as they host needs to survive so that the parasite can survive too.
Is this correct?

[mith]

Probably

[MrMistery]

B is probably the answer they are looking for, but such a question can not be answered by a A,B,C or D answer. Counterexample: HIV virus kills it's host. Malaria kills you. And they are still highly succesful. Actually, you first need to define succesfull

[canalon]

In evolutionary terms success is measured in terms of offspring: the more the better. Successful parasites have 2 strategies:
- Shedding fast a lot of offspring whatever the cost for host (usually high=death). Ex: Ebola...
- Reproducing more slowly and spreading your offspring for a longer time ex: HIV

In fact none of the answer is completely satisfying, but I would have said D, considering either the parasite only, or better its offspring.

Patrick

[MrMistery]

Now i see it... Hmmm... It could be D. Since it lives longer than it's host it must be succesful. Logical enough...

[Navin]

when i sat for the exam on wednesday i picked D

I hope im correct

ill let u know the answer in 2 weeks time when i get back my results.

[Navin]

i ended up getting it wrong
The answer the teacher wanted was B.

What do you think?

[GreenDog]

It had to b B. Think like a parasite ( I can easily do it ), You want your genes to survive for eternity, so you want to reproduce as fast as possibly and to pass on to the next host. These two wishes contradict each other because fast multiplication might kill the host before you get the chance to move on, on the other hand slow multiplicity is small copy number so you don’t get to spread your genes very well.
So…
It can't be A because you are a parasite after all…
Not C because you want to live long and prosper inside the host.
And not D because it's not good enough, you might outlive the host being a facultative parasite, but even such parasites want to use the host as much as possible for all the benefits ot gives you…

[baikuza]

A looks to a not good parasites, it's not a parasite any more if not make a bad effect to its host
B may be, because before it makes a big bad damages it has been destroied by leukocyte(for high class of organism, e.g. human)
C it may happen to all organism( but it's still depend on the parasite species)
D look at B, up there, then thinks others factors out side of them, parasites and host. or at other word the environment.

__________
awake on the day
knowing u are talking each other
i just wanna to join the fun

[Fried Zygote Sandwich]

I need help for this question which really stumped me.

A successful parasite is one that:
A benefits its host
B does little damage to its host
C kills its host
D lives longer than its host

There seemed to be some confusion between B and D. My personal opinion states that it does NOT have to live longer than it's host. The parasite will often reproduce, hopefully spread it's offspring to other hosts, and die before that host is dead. Some of it's offspring may remain in it's host, but they do not benefit by killing their host. If the host dies before it can reproduce it is not successful in it's evolutionary goal: to pass on it's genes. So B was the right answer. You had the right thought process though.