Subscribe now

Health

How the microbiome changes our idea of what it means to be human

The microbes living on and in you can change your mood, your mind and your health - challenging our ideas about human nature

By Rowan Hooper

3 October 2023

New Scientist Default Image

A new understanding of the microbiome suggest humans should think of themselves as metaorganisms

Sam Falconer

YOU may, quite reasonably, think you are an individual of the species Homo sapiens. Once you have finished reading what follows, you will hopefully have been convinced that there is far more to us than that. Trillions of other organisms live on (and, more notably, in) your body. As you will see in the reports that follow, their impact on you is such that you will probably never think about yourself in the same way again. Your microbes change who you are and what it means to be you. With knowledge of this facet of ourselves growing rapidly, exploring it has never been more relevant.

Until recently, scientists believed that there were three discrete parts of our nature that reflected solid aspects of an individual self: the immune system, the genome and the brain. “None of these pillars of the traditional definitions of the self – immunity, genome integrity, the central nervous system – are free of microbial impact,” says Thomas Bosch at Kiel University in Germany.

The microbes that colonise us, collectively known as the microbiome, challenge the concept of a discrete self. These include bacteria, viruses and fungi, although the bacteria are the best-studied. Together, these microbes orchestrate the immune system, influence how the brain works and grows, and affect our personality and feelings. Over a third of the genes in the human genome have a bacterial origin, and the action of trillions of microbial genes in the gut has direct impacts on our nutrition and…

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

View introductory offers

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 28th October 2023.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account