Our microbial partners, and how to look after them
Graham Rook |
TEDxLSE
• March 2018
Humans, like other animals, are not individuals. Rather, we are ecosystems containing more microbial cells (microorganisms) than human ones. These microorganisms contain much more DNA, encoding far more metabolic pathways than are found in our human genomes, and every cell in the human body is continuously bathed in biologically active products of microbial metabolism. This talk describes how and why this situation evolved, and outlines how we know that these microbial products are essential for good health, and are involved in the development and function of our organs, including the brain. Finally, the talk describes ways in which our microbial partners are becoming damaged and depleted by the modern life-style and by human agricultural and industrial activities, and lists some of the serious consequences for human health. The public must demand investigation of the effects of man-made environmental pollutants on our microbial partners.