Scientists once thought bacterial cells outnumbered human cells in our bodies by as much as 10:1. More recent estimates suggest the split is closer to even, so the human body contains roughly as many bacterial cells as human cells. We have roughly 37 trillion cells in our bodies that act as foundations of our tissues, organs, and blood. By comparison, about 38 trillion microbial cells — bacteria, fungi, and viruses — live in and on our bodies. The vast majority of those are concentrated in the gut, where microbial densities are far higher than elsewhere in the body. A stomach full of bacteria may sound troublesome, but those bacteria actually help break down food, produce essential nutrients, and support the immune system. The bacteria are collectively known as the microbiome, and they add up to weigh roughly 2 to 4 pounds — roughly the same weight range as the average human brain. |
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar