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

To understand why oats had this impact, researchers examined the gut microbiome.

From Science Daily

Perhaps the gut microbiome, beginning with a long article, which will appear as an audiobook.

From Los Angeles Times

Her goal was to better understand how changes in the gut microbiome might support improved health, well-being, and athletic performance.

From Science Daily

To investigate possible risk factors, Sirota's team compiled microbiome data from about 1,200 pregnant women whose outcomes were tracked across nine separate studies.

From Science Daily

The top 3% of gas passers who enroll in Hall’s study will have an opportunity to have their gut microbiome sequenced, which could help identify which bacteria contribute to intestinal distress.

From The Wall Street Journal