The Unique Bdellas
Matthew 10:29
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.”
Scientists describe the creatures as mean, greedy and anti-social. They are also impressive chemists. That’s some reputation for a creature whose lifespan is only four hours. The short form of this microscopic creature’s name is simply bdella.
Bdellas are predatory bacteria that live in fresh and salt water as well as in sewage. In the first stage of its life cycle, it swims freely, using large, whip-like flagella. The favorite food of the bdella is E. coli bacteria and, swimming ten times faster, the bdella rams the bacteria, punching a hole in its outer membrane and injecting six different enzymes. Then the bdella drops its flagellum and enters its prey, where it starts the second stage of its existence.
Over the next two or three hours, the bdella consumes the bacteria and reproduces. The new bdellas rupture the membrane and swim free to start the cycle all over. Scientists believe that the fact that bdellas eat so many different kinds of bacteria means that their purpose is to control the bacteria population.
It is interesting that even though many scientists reject the Creator, when confronted with an amazing creature like bdellas, they look for purpose. Truly the whole creation glorifies our Creator.
Prayer:
Father, I thank You that You are the Author of design and purpose. Forgive me for the times when I have talked about “luck” and “chance,” and thus failed to give a good witness to Your love and personal care. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Notes:
Martha Wolfe. 1984. “Pee Wee Predator.” Science News, Vol. 125, Jan. 28, pp. 60-61.
Photo: False-colored, negatively stained electron micrograph of a B. bacteriovorus bdelloplast. Photo by David Milner and Laura Hobley. "An inside job: Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus", Microbiology Today, Nov. 2008.
