Where Does Our Body's Bacteria Come From?

  • Thread starter binbots
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Bacteria
In summary: I didn't say anything that disagreed with that...gnotobiosis (to "know life") refers to knowing an organisms microbial flora--Be that a few strains of known microorganisms colonizing the organism, or "knowing" it posses no microbial flora. Obviously then Jorge, the set "germ-free" belongs to the set gnotobiotic...But thanks for playin...
  • #1
binbots
170
3
I was just wondering where all the bacteria in our bodies comes from? Does it enter the body through the mother during pregnancy? Also how does the body know how much to let in?
 
Biology news on Phys.org
  • #2
binbots said:
I was just wondering where all the bacteria in our bodies comes from? Does it enter the body through the mother during pregnancy? Also how does the body know how much to let in?
Much of it comes in through food or water- some in the air we breathe. The body does NOT "know how much to let in". But it can kill some of the bacteria. And the "beneficial" bacteria in the intestine is pretty much controlled based on how much food it gets.
 
  • #3
binbots said:
I was just wondering where all the bacteria in our bodies comes from? Does it enter the body through the mother during pregnancy? Also how does the body know how much to let in?

You eat them (or drink them, as HallsofIvy mentioned). Several species of infant animals have their mother's feces for a first meal in order to get the bacteria into their gut.
 
  • #4
Flora are established relatively early in life, much of it from maternal contact, and it will change during life. You'll have more bacterial/microbial cells in and on your body than human cells and their dynamic has to do with available space, substrate, competition with you and other microbe, etc.

Look up the term "microbiome."
 
  • #5
Thanks everyone. So when we are born we are bacteria free. But without these bacteria we will die. That is just interesting to think about.
 
  • #6
We probably won't die without them but we and they have evolved together so it won't be easy wthout them - one can sustain gnotobiotic (microbe-free) animals.
 
  • #7
JorgeLobo said:
We probably won't die without them but we and they have evolved together so it won't be easy wthout them - one can sustain gnotobiotic (microbe-free) animals.

Actually we'd probably die without our bacteria. They preform a host of services for us, from helping in digestion to out-competing real "bad" bacteria. Our immune systems evolved with them as well and there is evidence that bacteria and parasites help "pacify" our immune system--Or better keep it occupied such that it doesn't start attacking self-antigens.
 
  • #8
bobze said:
Actually we'd probably die without our bacteria. They preform a host of services for us, from helping in digestion to out-competing real "bad" bacteria. Our immune systems evolved with them as well and there is evidence that bacteria and parasites help "pacify" our immune system--Or better keep it occupied such that it doesn't start attacking self-antigens.

In practice, we would probably die. However, germ-free animals are an important component of biomedical research, and so it is clearly possible to live without bacteria present.
 
  • #9
Andy Resnick said:
In practice, we would probably die. However, germ-free animals are an important component of biomedical research, and so it is clearly possible to live without bacteria present.
Hi Andy, do these germ-free animals have no bacteria in the gut either?
 
  • #10
Andy Resnick said:
In practice, we would probably die. However, germ-free animals are an important component of biomedical research, and so it is clearly possible to live without bacteria present.

I agree Andy. The requirements that germ-free animals must be kept under (or even gnobiotic animals where the few strains that do live on them are known) aren't realistic to keeping a human being under. A bacteria free human, outside of a science-fiction novel, is a dead human.
 
  • #11
Q_Goest said:
Hi Andy, do these germ-free animals have no bacteria in the gut either?

There are animals that can be completely germ free which can used to study the effects of how a single type of bacteria introduced interact with their physiological and biological functions. Gnobiotic animals are animals with a known limited number of strains of microorganisms living on/with them.
 
  • #12
  • #13
No bobze - gnotobiotic concept also includes germ-free animals.
 
  • #14
JorgeLobo said:
No bobze - gnotobiotic concept also includes germ-free animals.

Jorge, I didn't say anything that disagreed with that...gnotobiosis (to "know life") refers to knowing an organisms microbial flora--Be that a few strains of known microorganisms colonizing the organism, or "knowing" it posses no microbial flora. Obviously then Jorge, the set "germ-free" belongs to the set gnotobiotic...But thanks for playin anyway!
 
  • #15
Jimmy23 said:
I thinks microbiota is a genus of evergreen coniferous shrub in the cypress family Cupressaceae, containing only one species, Microbiota decussata.

The thread is not about the genus microbiota but about gut flora, microbes present in our intestines.
 

1. Where does our body's bacteria come from?

Our body's bacteria comes from a variety of sources. Some of the most common sources include the environment, food, other people, and our own bodies.

2. Is all bacteria in our body harmful?

No, not all bacteria in our body is harmful. In fact, there are many types of bacteria that are actually beneficial for our health and play important roles in our body's functions.

3. How does bacteria get into our bodies?

Bacteria can enter our bodies through a variety of ways, such as through the air we breathe, the food we eat, or through contact with other people or objects. Some bacteria may also be present in our bodies from birth.

4. Can our body's bacteria be harmful?

While not all bacteria in our body is harmful, some types of bacteria can cause infections and illnesses. However, our body's immune system is usually able to fight off these harmful bacteria and keep us healthy.

5. Can we control the amount of bacteria in our body?

Yes, we can control the amount of bacteria in our body to some extent. Maintaining good hygiene, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding contact with harmful bacteria can help keep the amount of bacteria in our body at a healthy level.

Similar threads

  • Biology and Medical
Replies
2
Views
365
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
3
Views
885
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
747
Back
Top