The Handiwork-What Is Behind It? - Impartial and Just

To help us see further some of the Creator's qualities, let us consider one more system-the immune system in our body. It also involves bacteria.

"Although human interest in bacteria frequently focuses on their harmful effects," observes The New Encyclopedia Britannica, "most bacteria are harmless to  human beings, and many of them are actually beneficial."  Indeed, they are of life-and-death importance.  Bacteria play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle just mentioned, as well as in cycles involving carbon dioxide and some elements.  And we also need bacteria in our digestive tract.  We have some 400 species in our lower intestinal tract alone, and they help to synthesize vitamin K and process wastes. Of further benefit to us, bacteria help cows  turn grasses into milk. Other bacteria are vital in fermentation-in our making cheese, yogurt, pickles, sauerkraut, and kimchi.  What, though, if bacteria get where they do not belong in the body?

Then up to two trillion white blood cells in our body fight the bacterial that might harm us.  Daniel E. Koshland, Jr., editor of Science magazine, explains:   "The immune system is designed to recognize foreign invaders.  To do so it generates on the order of [100,000,000, 000] different kinds of immunological receptors so that no matter what the shape or form there will be some complementary receptor to recognize it and effect its elimination." 

Next time: The Handiwork -What Is Behind It? - Conclusion of Impartial and Just

From the book Is There a Creator That Cares About You?