Final answer:
Maggots are useful in medicine for cleaning wounds and preventing infection by consuming dead tissue, a technique used in maggot debridement therapy. They are also used in forensic entomology to estimate time of death based on their development stages on cadavers. Their ability to remove necrotic tissue helps reduce bacterial load and promotes wound healing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic of maggots that makes them useful in medicine is their preference for eating dead flesh, which allows them to clean wounds and prevent infection by removing dead tissue that could harbor bacteria. This method, known as maggot debridement therapy (MDT), has been used in the past and some hospitals continue to use it today for treating non-healing wounds like diabetic foot ulcers and pressure sores.
Forensic Entomology
Forensic entomologists utilize the knowledge of insects and their life cycles, specifically maggots, to determine the time of death in criminal investigations by examining the types and stages of maggot infestation on cadavers. This process can provide vital information, such as the timeline of death and whether the body has been moved since death.
Maggots and Wound Healing
Maggots help wounds heal by selectively eating the dead tissue in the wound, which promotes the growth of healthy tissue. The process also helps to reduce bacterial infection, which can further a wound's healing process. Hospitals applying MDT find this method effective, especially when antibiotics and other treatments fail.