A new genetic fingerprint lives in your belly
Our bodies contain far more microbial genes than human genes. And a new
study suggests that just as human DNA varies from person to person, so
too does the massive collection of microbial DNA in the intestine.
The research is the first to catalog the genetic variation of microbes
that live in the gut, where they extract nutrients from food, synthesiz
e
vitamins, protect against infections, and produce compounds that
naturally reduce inflammation. The widespread genetic diversity
uncovered by the scientists can help them understand how our microbial
genes work together with our human genes to keep us healthy or, in some
cases, to cause disease. The study, by researchers at Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the European Molecular
Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany, will be published online Dec.
5 in Nature.
"Surprisingly, each of us can be identified by
the collective DNA of our gut microbes," says corresponding author
George Weinstock, PhD, associate director of The Genome Institute at
Washington University."That collection is individualized, completely
analogous to our human genome. Differences in the way individuals
respond to various drugs or the way they use specific nutrients can be
traced to the genetic variation in our microbial genes as well as in our
human genes."
Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/
A new genetic fingerprint lives in your belly
Our bodies contain far more microbial genes than human genes. And a new study suggests that just as human DNA varies from person to person, so too does the massive collection of microbial DNA in the intestine.
The research is the first to catalog the genetic variation of microbes that live in the gut, where they extract nutrients from food, synthesiz
Our bodies contain far more microbial genes than human genes. And a new study suggests that just as human DNA varies from person to person, so too does the massive collection of microbial DNA in the intestine.
The research is the first to catalog the genetic variation of microbes that live in the gut, where they extract nutrients from food, synthesiz
e
vitamins, protect against infections, and produce compounds that
naturally reduce inflammation. The widespread genetic diversity
uncovered by the scientists can help them understand how our microbial
genes work together with our human genes to keep us healthy or, in some
cases, to cause disease. The study, by researchers at Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the European Molecular
Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany, will be published online Dec.
5 in Nature.
"Surprisingly, each of us can be identified by the collective DNA of our gut microbes," says corresponding author George Weinstock, PhD, associate director of The Genome Institute at Washington University."That collection is individualized, completely analogous to our human genome. Differences in the way individuals respond to various drugs or the way they use specific nutrients can be traced to the genetic variation in our microbial genes as well as in our human genes."
Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/
"Surprisingly, each of us can be identified by the collective DNA of our gut microbes," says corresponding author George Weinstock, PhD, associate director of The Genome Institute at Washington University."That collection is individualized, completely analogous to our human genome. Differences in the way individuals respond to various drugs or the way they use specific nutrients can be traced to the genetic variation in our microbial genes as well as in our human genes."
Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/
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