Hi there! Have you ever wondered where the medicines we use come from? Well, it turns out that many of them are inspired by nature! In fact, for every 10 medicines we use, 7 have ingredients that originally came from nature, like bacteria, fungi, and plants. These organisms are really good at making special chemicals to protect themselves from predators and competitors.
These natural interactions happen in all sorts of places, like mountains, oceans, and even in the soil. For example, some bacteria in the soil produce chemicals to keep worms away. Other bacteria might create substances to fight off fungi, and some fungi make chemicals to target bacteria. It’s like a tiny battle happening right under our feet!
Humans have learned to use these natural chemicals to make medicines. A famous example is penicillin, which is used to treat bacterial infections. There are also drugs from the avermectin family that help with parasitic worms, and amphotericin is used for serious fungal infections. These natural medicines are super effective because nature has been perfecting them for billions of years!
But that’s not all! We’ve also found painkillers in poppies and willow trees, eczema treatments in bacteria, anti-cancer drugs in Pacific yews, cholesterol-lowering drugs from fungi, and asthma medication from the ephedra plant. And guess what? There are still tons of organisms out there that we haven’t even discovered yet! A single teaspoon of soil can have thousands of species, many of which might have amazing medicinal properties.
This exploration of nature for new medicines is supported by places like the University of Minnesota. Researchers there are working hard to find new treatments for diseases. For example, Professor Christine Salomon is searching caves and mines for unique microbes that might have chemicals we can use in future medicines. Thanks to their efforts, we might discover even more life-saving drugs!
Isn’t it amazing how much we can learn from nature? Who knows what other incredible medicines are waiting to be discovered!
Explore your local environment to find plants, fungi, or other natural elements. Take notes or pictures and research if any of them have medicinal properties. Share your findings with the class and discuss how these natural elements might contribute to medicine.
Draw a comic strip that illustrates the journey of a natural organism, like a plant or fungus, becoming a medicine. Include the interactions it has in nature and how scientists might discover and develop it into a drug. Share your comic with the class and explain the process you depicted.
Participate in a role-playing game where you take on the roles of different organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or plants. Each organism has special abilities based on real-life chemical defenses. Engage in a simulated battle to understand how these interactions occur in nature and how they can lead to the discovery of new medicines.
Choose a medicine that originated from a natural source and research its history, discovery, and development. Create a presentation to share with the class, highlighting the natural source, the process of turning it into a medicine, and its impact on human health.
Imagine a new medicine that could be discovered from an unexplored natural source. Design a poster that includes the organism, the potential medicinal properties, and how it might be used to treat diseases. Present your idea to the class and explain why you chose that particular organism.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, this is Kate from MinuteEarth. For every 10 medications used by humans, 7 contain chemical compounds that originally came from the natural world, mostly from bacteria, fungi, and plants. This is because these organisms are adept at producing specialized chemical defenses against threats from predators and competition.
These interactions occur in various environments, including mountains, oceans, and soil. For instance, soil bacteria produce compounds to deter worms, while other bacteria defend against fungi by creating chemicals that disrupt fungal cells. In turn, some fungi produce compounds that target bacteria.
Humans have harnessed these natural compounds for medicinal purposes. For example, penicillin is used to treat bacterial infections, and drugs from the avermectin family are used for parasitic worms. Serious fungal infections are often treated with amphotericin. These natural drugs are among the most effective pathogen-fighting medications available, as nature has been conducting its own form of drug research for billions of years.
In addition to these, we have discovered painkillers in poppies and willow trees, treatments for eczema in bacteria, anti-cancer medications in Pacific yews, cholesterol drugs from fungi, and asthma medication from the ephedra plant, among others. There are still many organisms that remain unidentified and unexplored for their potential pharmaceutical applications. A single teaspoon of soil can contain thousands of species, many of which are unknown to science, each producing various defensive compounds that could be valuable in medicine.
This video was sponsored by the University of Minnesota, where students, faculty, and staff across various fields are working to address significant societal challenges. Researchers at the university are advancing human health by identifying innovative therapeutics for diseases. For example, Professor Christine Salomon from the Center for Drug Design is exploring caves and mines for unique microbes whose defensive chemicals may be used in future medications. Thank you, University of Minnesota!
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Medicines – Substances used to treat or prevent diseases and relieve pain. – Doctors prescribe medicines to help patients recover from illnesses.
Bacteria – Microscopic single-celled organisms that can be found in various environments. – Some bacteria are beneficial and help in digestion, while others can cause infections.
Fungi – A group of organisms that includes molds, yeasts, and mushrooms, which decompose organic material. – Fungi play an important role in breaking down dead plants and recycling nutrients in the ecosystem.
Chemicals – Substances with a distinct molecular composition that are produced by or used in a chemical process. – Scientists study chemicals to understand how they interact with living organisms.
Nature – The physical world and everything in it that is not made by humans. – Nature provides many resources, such as plants and minerals, that are used to make medicines.
Infections – Invasions and multiplications of microorganisms in body tissues, causing illness. – Washing hands regularly can help prevent infections caused by harmful bacteria.
Drugs – Substances that have a physiological effect when introduced into the body, often used for medical purposes. – Researchers are developing new drugs to treat diseases more effectively.
Plants – Living organisms that typically grow in soil, have leaves and roots, and use sunlight to make food through photosynthesis. – Many plants have medicinal properties and are used to create herbal remedies.
Properties – Characteristics or qualities of a substance that define its behavior and interactions. – The properties of water, such as its ability to dissolve many substances, make it essential for life.
Researchers – People who conduct scientific studies to discover new information and advance knowledge. – Researchers are exploring how certain fungi can be used to produce antibiotics.
