Bacteria’s Eyes and Ears

Exodus 15:2
“The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

Modern researchers are learning that bacteria are not a simple form of life. Rather, a bacterium is a tremendously complex creature that thinks. Scientists have discovered that bacteria actually have molecule-sized sensors. Some of these sensors act as eyes, while others act as ears. A dozen other proteins have been discovered that receive the information gathered by the bacteria’s “eyes” and “ears.” The collected information is then processed the same way your brain gathers and makes sense of information.

Bacteria have specialized senses and a brain. In fact, bacteria are better at sensing some things than you and I are. A bacterium can, for example, sense the difference between two parts and one part in 10,000. This is the same as if you could tell the difference between one jar with 9,999 pennies and another jar with 10,000 pennies!

The idea that bacteria are just “simple” forms of life comes from evolution. Growing research is showing that even one-celled creatures are not simple at all. Think of it. Every single-celled bacterium must accomplish, within that one cell, all the tasks we accomplish using the trillions of cells in our bodies. Eating, digestion, metabolism, waste removal, reproduction – and even thinking – all take place within a single cell! There is no such thing as a simple form of life.

Science certainly argues against the idea that life began by accident. What science is learning urges us to think about the wise and thoughtful Creator Who made us!

Prayer:
Dear Father, You are so wonderful that even bacteria glorify You! Excuse the weakness of my worship. Help me to praise You with all of the wonderful being You have given me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Notes:
Pietsch, Paul. 1983. “The mind of a microbe.” Science Digest, Oct. p. 69. Photo: The structure of a bacterial cell (PD)