How species extinction is bad for our health

Yesterday was Earth Day, a good reminder of the importance of caring for nature. I know I'm always saddened and angry when I hear of yet another species on the brink of extinction. The impact declining species have on the environment is evident -- it disrupts the balance of everything in the area. But did you know that declining species can also impact our health?

Over 100 experts contributed to a book titled Sustaining Life. Biodiversity offers us a wealth of knowledge. Learning how different species handle illness, reproduction, and other health issues can impact our own medical knowledge. The clues from animal species can help us solve our own medical mysteries.

One example is the southern gastric brooding frog, which is now extinct. The frog's babies gestate in the mother's stomach -- scientists had hoped that studying this anomaly would have led to possible treatments for ulcers and other human stomach ailments.