TED-Ed: How do germs spread (and why do they make us sick)? - Yannay Khaikin and Nicole Mideo

The video discusses how germs, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses, are omnipresent and can affect our health. It explores why some germs are harmless while others are deadly, attributing this to evolutionary processes. The trade-off hypothesis suggests germs evolve to balance virulence and transmission. Rhinovirus, causing common colds, is used as an example, showing how it evolves to be less virulent to ensure host mobility and transmission. Other germs, like the malaria parasite, use different transmission modes, leading to more severe symptoms. The video concludes with strategies to direct germ evolution towards milder forms through disease-control methods.

What are the different types of microscopic organisms referred to as germs?

How does the rhinovirus replicate and what is its impact on the host?

What are the potential consequences of a virus that replicates too quickly in a host?

Explain the trade-off hypothesis in relation to the evolution of germs.

Describe how the malaria parasite is transmitted and its relationship with host mobility.

How do different modes of transmission affect the severity of symptoms caused by germs?

What methods can be employed to reduce the harmfulness of infectious diseases according to Dr. Paul Ewald?