Mutualism
Mutualism (myo͞o′cho͞o-ə-lĭz′əm)
Mutualism (pronounced myo͞o′cho͞o-ə-lĭz′əm) is a term used in various fields, including biology, sociology, and economics. In the context of medicine and biology, it refers to a type of symbiotic relationship where both organisms or parties benefit. The term is derived from the Latin word "mutuus," which means "reciprocal" or "mutual."
Definition
In the field of medicine and biology, mutualism is a type of symbiosis where two organisms of different species exist in a relationship in which each individual benefits from the activity of the other. This relationship can be either obligate, where one or both of the mutualists cannot survive in nature without its partner, or facultative, where they can survive on their own.
Examples
Examples of mutualism in medicine and biology include the relationship between the human body and the gut flora that live in the digestive tract. The gut flora benefit by having a warm, nutrient-rich environment to live in, while the human body benefits from the vitamins and other essential nutrients that the gut flora produce.
Related Terms
- Symbiosis: A close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms.
- Commensalism: A type of relationship between two organisms where one benefits and the other is not significantly harmed or helped.
- Parasitism: A non-mutual symbiotic relationship between species, where one species, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Mutualism
- Wikipedia's article - Mutualism
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