People are starting to realize how important the microbiome is for human health and are expanding research in that area. Some researchers are looking at the possible link between gut microbiome and the behavior of children. Scientists think that children with behavioral issues have a different microbiome in their stomach than well-behaved children. However, Dr. Sharpton from Oregon State University believes that the microbiome is not causing the behavioral differences, rather the behavior is causing the microbiome to change. With more research, Sharpton believes we may be able to predict how a child will behave by looking at their microbiome. This research is not done yet and the results are inconclusive at this point, however it is an interesting topic that the microbiome could be linked to behavior. I find this idea rather hard to believe since we learned in class that the microbiome is acquired and affected through exposure to bacteria in the early stages of life, I don’t see how behavioral habits could affect it.
Other scientists are doing research on how the microbiome can be used to predict diseases and the lifespan of people, as opposed to using genetics to predict these things. In order to conduct this research, scientist looked at the relationship between the gut microbiome of 47 different cases and their association with different diseases such as asthma, high blood pressure and schizophrenia. The results were then compared to 24 cases that looked at the association between specific human genetics and various diseases. The findings of the study revealed that the microbiome was on average 20% better at predicting an ill person than the gene testing was. This study is also interesting; the microbiome prevents harmful bacteria from taking over our bodies. So it makes sense that doctors could predict what diseases we are more susceptible to by looking at the composition of our microbiomes.
I think it is a great thing that people are starting to research the microbiome more and find links to human health. With the proper research, scientists may be able to figure out the proper bacteria babies need to be exposed to in order to become as healthy as possible. Also, if doctors can look at the microbiome of people to see which diseases they are more susceptible to, people can use this information to take preventative measures and avoid some diseases. There are still many unanswered questions in the field and the potential for growth. More research in this field could lead to some major advances in medical treatment.
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