Assignment 2
THE HUMAN MICROBE- ME, MYSELF, AND US
1) Explain how the human body could be considered 90% prokaryotic.
Prokaryotic is one of the major types of cells that exist on planet Earth.
Unlike Eukaryotic cells, Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus to
protect their DNA and are a single cell organisms. Bacteria and
Archaea are two types of prokaryotic cells. According to the article, our
body hosts more bacterial cells than human cells which is why our
body can be considered 90% prokaryotic (Me, myself, us, 2012).
2) How do bacteria enable a baby to extract nutrition from the mother's
milk? (See the paper and be very specific about the enzymes
involved).
As human gut is full of pro-bacteria that help the human being digest the
food. Studies show that riboflavin-producing bacteria help extract nutrition
from mother’s milk because they produce an enzyme known as glycoside
hydrolase. Glycoside hydrolase is made by commensal bacterial and
converts carbohydrates contained in milk into sugars. Naturally, humans are
not designed by their genes to digest glycan but with the help of these
bacterial enzyme, humans are able to digest glycans which are essential part
of our nutrition (Me, myself, us, 2012)
*Questions 3 - 7. Use supportive evidence from the assigned reading
and at least one additional source per question.
*3) How could the bacterial microbiome impact obesity?
According to the study done by Dr. Gordon in 2006 showed that fat people
had more Firmicutes and fewer Bacteria than thin ones. This bacteria helped
in the slimming process of a fat person (me, myself, and us, 2012). There is
an association between the microbiota of the gut and obesity. It is found that
there is low fecal bacterial diversity is associated with more marked overall
adiposity and dyslipidemia, impaired glucose homeostasis and higher low-
grade inflammation (Me, myself, us, 2012).
*4.) What is Clostridium difficile and why is a Clostridium difficile infection so
difficult to treat?
Clostridium difficile is a bug that causes severe diarrhea along with other
symptoms (Me, myself, and us, 2012). C. diff kills many people every year in
THE HUMAN MICROBE- ME, MYSELF, AND US
1) Explain how the human body could be considered 90% prokaryotic.
Prokaryotic is one of the major types of cells that exist on planet Earth.
Unlike Eukaryotic cells, Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus to
protect their DNA and are a single cell organisms. Bacteria and
Archaea are two types of prokaryotic cells. According to the article, our
body hosts more bacterial cells than human cells which is why our
body can be considered 90% prokaryotic (Me, myself, us, 2012).
2) How do bacteria enable a baby to extract nutrition from the mother's
milk? (See the paper and be very specific about the enzymes
involved).
As human gut is full of pro-bacteria that help the human being digest the
food. Studies show that riboflavin-producing bacteria help extract nutrition
from mother’s milk because they produce an enzyme known as glycoside
hydrolase. Glycoside hydrolase is made by commensal bacterial and
converts carbohydrates contained in milk into sugars. Naturally, humans are
not designed by their genes to digest glycan but with the help of these
bacterial enzyme, humans are able to digest glycans which are essential part
of our nutrition (Me, myself, us, 2012)
*Questions 3 - 7. Use supportive evidence from the assigned reading
and at least one additional source per question.
*3) How could the bacterial microbiome impact obesity?
According to the study done by Dr. Gordon in 2006 showed that fat people
had more Firmicutes and fewer Bacteria than thin ones. This bacteria helped
in the slimming process of a fat person (me, myself, and us, 2012). There is
an association between the microbiota of the gut and obesity. It is found that
there is low fecal bacterial diversity is associated with more marked overall
adiposity and dyslipidemia, impaired glucose homeostasis and higher low-
grade inflammation (Me, myself, us, 2012).
*4.) What is Clostridium difficile and why is a Clostridium difficile infection so
difficult to treat?
Clostridium difficile is a bug that causes severe diarrhea along with other
symptoms (Me, myself, and us, 2012). C. diff kills many people every year in
