Final answer:
Microorganisms are specialized to certain parts of the body due to unique environmental conditions, such as moisture and nutrient availability, that impact microbial survival and growth. An example is the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which thrives in low-oxygen environments and can cause tetanus if it enters a wound.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some microorganisms are specialized to only certain parts of the body due to the unique conditions and ecosystems present in different regions. For instance, the skin's microbiome varies across regions of the body, creating environments where only certain microbes can thrive. The moist, nutrient-rich environment of the underarms is conducive for a different set of microorganisms compared to the dry, exposed skin on the forearms. This specialization ensures that microbes are adapted to survive in the conditions that prevail in each body part, resembling a balance seen in various ecosystems around the world.
Clostridium tetani, a bacterium naturally found in soil, provides one example. When it enters the body through a wound, it can multiply in the low-oxygen environment of dead tissue and produce a toxin causing tetanus. This demonstrates how some free-living microorganisms can become opportunistic pathogens under the right conditions.
Specialization of cells and microorganisms is a key feature that helps larger, multicellular organisms survive by allowing for a more efficient management of resources and processes, and it goes hand in hand with the differentiation seen in the specialization of cells and tissues within organ systems.