Introduction
Microbiome analysis is a field of study that looks at the various organisms in our bodies, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. We have a microbiome for nearly every component of our body, including the cells that make up organs and tissues. Since so many different components are involved with microbiome analysis, some scientists believe it's not possible to fix or affect one without impacting others.
In this blog post you will find out what microbiome is and how it can help with health issues such as obesity.
What is microbiome analysis?
Microbiome analysis refers to the body's natural flora or the trillions of microbes that live in or on your body. This includes bacteria, fungi, archaebacteria, and viruses. A recent estimate indicates that this natural flora outnumbers human cells by 10 to 1 and in some places they may be as many as 100 times more numerous. In addition to being located throughout our body, microorganisms are also resident in our guts. The word microbiome derives from the Greek word 'micro,' meaning small and the word 'bios' meaning life. Put together, they mean the community of microbes we carry around with us. In other words, we are what we eat: at least a large part of us is.
What is gut microbiome?
Gut is an area between the stomach and intestines that consists of numerous channels called alimentary canal. The gut is where almost half of our immune system resides. Our gut microbiome analysis helps us understand the wide range of microorganisms found in the gut and how they affect our body.
The human body is covered with a diverse ecosystem of bacterial, fungal, and other microbial life. These microbes live on the skin, in the nose, mouth, vagina, and rectum. In all there are estimated to be more than 10 times as many microbes living in or on your body (trillions) as actual human cells (thousands). These microbes include bacteria, viruses, fungus, and other microorganisms. Sometimes most of the microbes we carry are found in our gut. Recent estimates indicate the number of microorganisms in our body outnumbers our human cells by 10 to 1.
Is the microbiome getting more attention?
Microbiome analysis is a relatively new field of study and research has just begun to understand how these tiny organisms affect us. Some researchers believe microbiomes will change our understanding of genetics and evolution. Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) are working to modify the human microbiome and are already making some controversial discoveries. The benefits of microbiome analysis are yet to be realized, but the concept of studying a living organism is not new. In the 1940's, people started exploring microorganisms as a way of understanding how diseases worked and developing better treatments.