Asked by: Chris McMullon, Barnham
A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism, getting food from and causing damage to its host. Humans have many parasites, including hookworms, head lice and Plasmodium (single-celled organisms that cause malaria). But we aren’t parasites ourselves because we don’t live in, or on, any other species.
Read more:
Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun facts.
Authors
Luis trained as a zoologist, but now works as a science and technology educator. In his spare time he builds 3D-printed robots, in the hope that he will be spared when the revolution inevitably comes.
