Science Weekly Revisited: Secrets of the gut microbiome
25 snips
Dec 5, 2024 James Kinross, a colorectal surgeon and microbiome researcher at Imperial College London, dives into the fascinating world of gut health. He discusses how our microbiome evolves from birth, the critical role diet plays in maintaining microbial diversity, and the surprising gut-brain connection that influences mental health. Kinross also highlights the gut's impact on attraction and provides tips for nurturing a healthy microbiome. Get ready to rethink your relationship with your gut!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Microbiome Size
- We have 100 trillion bacteria in our colon, similar to our body's total cell count.
- Our microbiome has 30+ million microbial genes, dwarfing our 23,000 human genes.
Microbiome Development
- We are sterile in the womb and acquire our initial microbiome through birth and breastfeeding.
- The microbiome changes dramatically until age 3-5, stabilizes in adulthood, and becomes more vulnerable after 70.
Individual Microbiome Variation
- While we share a common core microbiome for gut function, individual variation is substantial.
- We only share about 10% of the same microbial strains, impacting disease experience and future therapies.
