THE HUMAN MICROBIOME: Background
Background
General Information Concerning the Microbiome
What's So Important About the Microbiome?
The human microbiome harbors a wide diversity of microorganisms. Depending on where they are, they contribute to our health in many ways. Some areas that are affected include: nutrition, protection to pathogens, immune response, and more. Taking this knowledge and applying it to biotechnology is key to further developing human health. We can manipulate the microbes to our advantage and save lives. [45]
Below are topics that contribute to understanding the human microbiome:
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Everybody has a different microbiome. That being said, as a person develops, their microbiome develops. This is generally the same for everybody. The development starts in the womb, and continues until that person dies. The following page discusses in detail what happens throughout a persons life involving the microbiome.
DIFFERENT FLORAS
The microbiome is divided into different floras (parts of the body). Different microbes are more concentrated in some areas of the body than others. For example, staphylococcus epidermidis is a very common bacteria on the skin. The following page documents the different microbes on the body.
TIMELINE
In this new age of medicine, scientists have learned how to manipulate the DNA of microbes in order to benefit us. This could not have been possible without the discoveries of the first microorganisms and how they help us. The following page contains a timeline of important discoveries in history concerning microbiology.