microbiome

[ mahy-kroh-bahy-ohm ]

noun

, Microbiology.

1. the totality of microorganisms and their collective genetic material present in or on the human body or in another environment:

   The wide diversity of species that make up the microbiome is hard to fathom.

Word History and Origins

Origin of microbiome¹

Coined 2001 by Joshua Lederberg, American molecular biologist; micro(be) + biome

Example Sentences

Malnourished children have reduced immunity, meaning they are less able to fight infections – such as E.coli – partly due to changes to their microbiome.

From Salon

They’re also awaiting results on other possible options, like probiotic powders that may strengthen bats’ skin microbiomes to slow fungal growth.

From Los Angeles Times

If the microbiome is critical for health, and candy can disrupt its balance, how can you restore gut health after Halloween?

From Salon

“The digestive tract, or rumen, basically requires movement. There has to be things moving out of that rumen constantly in order for the pH balance and microbiome to stay where it should be,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

There is growing evidence that a person's microbiome - the ecosystem of millions of different microbes living in our guts - has a wide-ranging influence on our health.

From BBC

More About Microbiome

What is a microbiome?

A microbiome is a full collection of microorganisms and the genetic material of a living being or a specific environment.

The term microbiome is most often used in reference to the human microbiome, and people will often discuss the microbiome without specifying that they mean the human variety. However, every living being has a microbiome.

The microbiome includes all of the cells that make up a living body and all of the microorganisms that exist within it that promote healthy life processes, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. For example, there are hundreds of millions of bacteria and other organisms within the body that promote digestion, protect against pathogens and disease, and extract toxins from the body. All negative or outside organisms that enter the body also effectively become a part of the microbiome and will be considered when evaluating someone’s condition or health.

Some of the first bacteria identified as living inside the bodies of healthy humans were E. coli, which aids digestion in the large intestine, and Veillonella parvula, which converts some harmful acids in the mouth into less harmful ones. In 2007, the scientific community launched a project called the Human Microbiome Project in order to learn more about these microorganisms. 

Example: The human microbiome includes so much more than bacteria and viruses.

Where does microbiome come from?

The first records of the term microbiome come from around the early 2000s. It was coined by American biologist Joshua Lederberg and combines the term microbe, referring to microorganisms, and biome, which is a “complex community of distinctive species maintained under certain conditions in a particular region.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to microbiome?

• microbiomic (adjective)
• microbiomics (noun)

What are some words that share a root or word element with microbiome? 

• microbe
• biome
• microbiology
• microbiota

What are some words that often get used in discussing microbiome?

• bacteria
• cell
• DNA
• gene
• organism

How is microbiome used in real life?

Microbiome is almost always used in scientific contexts and discussions.

I didn’t spend years writing a book about the immune system and skin microbiome and cultural influence of soap industry marketing and ethnographic origins of the concept of “clean” in order to do a billion interviews that center on whether or not I smell.

— James Hamblin (@jameshamblin) July 30, 2020

Some people’s gut bacteria are better at breaking down food and extracting calories, which means that different people can receive different amounts of calories from the same food, depending on the type of one’s microbiome.

— Quite Interesting (@qikipedia) April 17, 2019

I don’t think LA changed me but also I just spent 10 minutes explaining probiotics to my dad and the importance of microbiome diversity.

— Zach Kornfeld (@korndiddy) November 21, 2018

 

Try using microbiome!

True or False?

A microbiome is determined only by the cells that make up the brain.