microbiome

American  

[mahy-kroh-bahy-ohm] / ˌmaɪ kroʊˈbaɪ oʊm /

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.

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Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of microbiome

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

Compare meaning

How does microbiome compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• microbiota vs. microbiome

Example Sentences

While the gut microbiome does play a crucial role in our wellbeing, evidence for many of these fixes is thin and for most healthy people, obsessing over gut "healing" may be unnecessary.

From BBC

That means it can influence the gut microbiome without affecting the rest of the body, helping to avoid toxicity and unwanted side effects.

From Science Daily

While the review identifies the gut microbiome as a likely contributor to the berries' cardiometabolic effects, the authors note that additional research is needed to clarify exactly how this process works.

From Science Daily

Other research shows they can cause dysfunction in the gut microbiome.

From The Wall Street Journal

More broadly, she explained that the results show just how responsive the sourdough microbiome is to environmental conditions.

From Science Daily