Thinking about the microbiome and human health

 

 

This week’s lab is a little bit of unit 1 and a little bit of unit 2.

 

Thinking about the microbiome and human health

These questions have no specific “right” answers that I am looking for.  If you can justify your thinking with accurate facts, your answer will count.

  1. Give me three reasons the microbiome should be considered a human organ.

 

  1. The microbiome is involved in various essential bodily functions, including digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune system regulation, all of which are done by other body organs. For instance, it helps break down complex carbohydrates such as fiber, which often presents digestion difficulties to our own digestive system.
  2. Another reason is that microbiome depicts a symbiotic relationship with the body where it provides crucial metabolic and protective functions, a process that is the same to other organs that interact with other body system.
  3. They are also characterized by a large mass and functional complexity that plays an essential role in rivaling traditional organs such as the liver, a factor that influences homeostasis and overall health, as well as other multiple body systems such as metabolism and central nervous system.

 

  1. Give me three reasons the microbiome should not be considered a human organ.
  1. Unlike traditional body organs, the microbiome is made up of foreign microorganisms instead of human tissue.
  2. The composition of the microbiome varies greatly from one person to another and over time, and this decreases its stability and undermines its permanency, a phenomenon that is directly opposite to typical body organs.
  3. The microbiome lacks an anatomical structure with defined boundaries like other body organs. It presents itself as a dynamic collection of microorganisms that are spread across a wide range of systems.

 

  1. Should doctors test for “healthy” and “diseased” microbiomes as part of their diagnostic exams? Why or why not?
  1. I believe doctors should conduct a test to determine if microbiomes are healthy or diseased. The rationale for this is that microbiomes play an essential role in a wide range of health conditions, including digestive disorders, immune system dysfunctions, and mental health. Agreeably, testing has the capacity to provide valuable insights into conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and obesity, making it indispensable.

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Microbiome: Gut Bugs and You | Warren Peters | TEDxLaSierraUniversity

Just a note: The short video greatly simplifies (perhaps oversimplifies) the issue of the microbiome, but it is good enough to get you thinking about the topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDqMB6C1uys&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

  1. How does the number of genes in the microbiome compare to the number of genes in either the human or the rice plant?

 

According to Warren (2016), humans are believed to have approximately 26,000 genes, whereas the rice plant has close to 46,000 genes. Besides, the human microbiome comprises more than 100,000 microbial genes, and this surpasses both human and rice plant genes.

 

  1. What are some examples given in the video of good and bad things the gut microbiome does for us? List a few.

 

In the context of good, the microbiome is involved in fermenting food residues, and this produces short-chain fatty acids that contribute to the support of a healthy immune system. Besides, it aids in the harvesting of calories from fiber-rich food, and this has been linked with helping humans survive when food is scarce. However, microbiomes are not without limitations as their imbalance, also known as dysbiosis causes health issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and other autoimmune diseases.

 

  1. What happened to the skinny mouse that got a fecal transplant from the obese mouse?

 

According to Warren, the skinny mouse became obese after its body was introduced to a fecal transplant from the obese mouse.

 

  1. What does that potentially tell you about the microbiome and obesity?

 

 

This showcases that microbiomes are highly involved in metabolic conditions and obesity. Specifically, bacterial families such as Firmicutes, which are associated with the effective harvesting of calories contribute to weight gain.

 

  1. Can staying up late studying for exams too often potentially affect your microbiome? If so, how?

 

Yes, staying up late has a negative effect on the microbiome. This is due to the fact that both humans and their gut bacteria have what is known as circadian rhythms. As such, any disruption in sleep can result in an imbalance in the microbiome, and this can have an effect on overall health.

 

Dan Knights- How We Study the Microbiome

https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_knights_how_we_study_the_microbes_living_in_your_gut

  1. What happens to the microbiome of Hmong and Karen people moving to the United States? What impact does this have on their health?

 

When Hmong and Karen people move to the United States, there is a high likelihood of losing approximately 20% of their microbiome diversity because they adopt a Western diet and lifestyle (Knight, 2017). This loss is associated with an increased risk of developing conditions such as obesity and diabetes; diseases that were previously uncommon in their communities. From a critical point of view, the microbiome changes results in health issues, and this reflects the negative impact of a Westernized setting on their gut health.

You will have noticed that in both Ted Talks, they mentioned that it is difficult to determine whether the microbiome causes health problems, or whether health problems lead to a change in the microbiome.

 

This is a very exciting field of research, and it is likely you will be hearing more about this if you go into any health-related field professionally!

 

 

And last but not least!

You have a choice! For 5 points:

You can either

  1. Research a case or situation where forensic analysis of bone was involved and write two paragraphs about the use of bone forensics in that instance. This could be true crime, natural disaster investigation, ect.

 

  1. Write two paragraphs on the pros and cons of attempting to identify biological sex and ethnicity from skeletons and identify your position on the issue.

 

The identification of both biological sex and ethnicity from skeletal remains is characterized by both practical benefits and ethical concerns. In the context of benefits, determining biological sex can play a crucial role in assisting forensic scientists and anthropologists narrow down the identity of unknown remains. This is particularly important when it comes to the identification of missing persons. In the same light, using skeletal features such as cranial shape and dental patterns to estimate ethnic background can assist in providing additional clues about the origin of an individual. Irrefutably, this is critical in criminal investigations and archaeological research.

Nonetheless, there are a few limitations and risks associated with the adoption of these methods. Skeletal traits that are related to sex and ethnicity can vary widely and in most times, their reliability as indicators is inconsistent, particularly due to environmental, genetic, and individual variations. As a result, there is a likelihood of arriving to inaccurate conclusions, and this can reinforce stereotypes or assumptions associated with race and gender.

If you are stuck and don’t know where to start, this might help for option A Medical Detectives (Forensic Files) – Season 7, Ep 30: Tooth or Consequences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FykyEtMgMHw&ab_channel=FilmRiseTrueCrime (Content warning for death, violence, sexual abuse), or you can see the links provided in the most recent powerpoint about the issues surrounding identification of skeletal remains. You do not have to use my examples.

 

 

References

Knight, D. (2017). Update browser. TED: Ideas change everything. https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_knights_how_we_study_the_microbes_living_in_your_gut/transcript?subtitle=en

Warren, P. (2016). Microbiome: Gut Bugs and You | Warren Peters | TEDxLaSierraUniversity [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDqMB6C1uys&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

 

 

 

 

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