Bacteria 10 – Human cells – 1

Yesterday at the 108th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Boston, researchers reported some staggering numbers – the ratio of bacteria in our bodies to our human cells is 10 to 1. One scientist was able to estimate approximately 500 different species of bacteria living on our skin alone. This has led other researchers to tackle individual body parts to study possible correlations with their ailments. One is studying the bacteria in the human digestive tract to see if there may be a relationship to Crohn’s disease, while another is studying the bacteria residing in the digestive tract to see if there’s a correlation to obesity.

Click here to read about those we unknowingly play host to, and their ecosystem within us.