Describe the microbiome and the relative numbers of human cells vs microbial cells that make up a typical human being
The human microbiome refers to a community of genetic materials or microbes. The relative number of the microbiome cells as compared to those of human cells ranges from 100: 1 (American Institute of Biological Science, 2020).
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The human microbiome comprises of all the microbes that are present in a particular community. The ration of microbiomes to that of the human cells is 100 to 1 (University of Utah GSLC, 2020).
According to Liddicoat, Waycott & Weinstein (2016), human microbiome has more than 100 more genes in comparison to the genes in the human genome.
Conduct independent research into the microbiome associated with an organ of your choice (e.g. lungs, skin, gut, mouth) and report back to the class about what you have found.
The microbiomes in the human skin are beneficial in that they play a role in balancing the skin surface PH levels by lowering it and thus making the skin surface to be inhospitable to the harmful pathogens which include Streptococcus pyogens and Propionibacterium acnes ( Ladizinski, 2014) .
A research conducted by Elis et al on the microbiomes associated with the skin reveals that they play a critical role in the process of homeostasis, particularly in ensuring that the cutaneous immune system is working and in proper condition (Elis et al., 2019).
The skin human microscope influencing or impact the functions of the host immune system, for example, protecting the human body from potential diseases (Sanford & Gallo, 2013).
Explain at least one implication for healthy living that you learned about in the course of your research.
One implication of healthy living I have learned in the course of my research the function of the microbiome in positively impacting the human immune system (Ladizinski, 2014). For example, by lowering the PH levels of the skin, the skin microbiome helps in making the skin environment inhospitable for some of the bacteria and thus resulting in a healthy living.
Does the status of a human body as an ecosystem alter your understanding of yourself in any way?
Yes, the status of the human body as an ecosystem alters my understanding of myself in that I have learned that the presence of various types of human microbiomes such as skin, lung, gut and mouth etc. critical for the maintenance of the immune system as the microbiomes help in destroying harmful bacteria. I have now fully understood the importance of human microbiomes in the human body (Ladizinski 2014).
References
American Institute of Biological Science, A. I. (Director). (2020). Episode #19: Microbial Biodiversity in the Environment Can Alter Human Health [Motion Picture]. Retrieved from http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/8/7/2/8729b17206df389f/Liddicoat.mp3?c_id=13591096&cs_id=13591096&destination_id=274352&expiration=1581415391&hwt=0f544c8573bac0d55899ff2957c55ebc
Ellis, S. R., Nguyen, M., Vaughn, A. R., Notay, M., Burney, W. A., Sandhu, S., & Sivamani, R. K. (2019).
Ladizinski, B., McLean, R., Lee, K. C., Elpern, D. J., & Eron, L. (2014). The human skin microbiome. International journal of dermatology , 53 (9), 1177-1179.
Liddicoat, C., Waycott, M., & Weinstein, P. (2016). Environmental change and human health: can environmental proxies inform the biodiversity hypothesis for protective microbial–human contact? BioScience , 66 (12), 1023-1034.
Sanford, J. A., & Gallo, R. L. (2013, November). Functions of the skin microbiota in health and disease. In Seminars in immunology (Vol. 25, No. 5, pp. 370-377). Academic Press.
The Skin and Gut Microbiome and Its Role in Common Dermatologic Conditions. Microorganisms , 7 (11), 550.
University of Utah GSLC. (2020). The Human Microbiome . Retrieved from Learn Genetics: Genetic Learning Centre: https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/microbiome/
