For most of human history the
existence of microbes was unknown. When they
finally surfaced in biological studies, they were cast as disease causing rogues. Only
recently have the study of microbes moved from the neglected fringes of biology
to its center. Even today many people think of microbes as germs to
be eradicated. But those that live within
us and on us--- our microbiome --- are invaluable and necessary parts of our
lives.
Our core book and this SDG lets us
peer into this world, allowing us to see how ubiquitous and vital microbes are
to us, and every other organism on the planet. How they
sculpt our organs; defend us from disease, break down our food, educate our
immune systems, guide our behavior, bombard our genomes with their genes, and
grant us many of our abilities. While much of the prevailing
discussion around the microbiome has focused on its implications for human
health, our core book and this SDG, broadens this focus to describe how microbes
effect the entire animal kingdom—how each animal is an integrated traveling ecosystem onto
itself -- giving us a much grander view of life.
Almost all of this information is
new to science, so any microbiologists among us will also have much to learn.
Among the many amazing tidbits we’ll uncover, are: the fact that every single individual is a complete and totally unique ecosystem
of bacteria different from that of every other individual; that the number of bacteria in 1 gram of our dental plaque is
greater than the number of humans that ever lived, how within us there are 500 times more
bacterial genes than human genes, how the microbes on our left palm
differ from those on our right palm, and those in our left armpit differ from those in our right; that bacteria are necessary for many higher organisms to develop proper bodies; that much of
the content of human breast milk is not digestible by the human infant but instead sustain bacteria necessary for the infant’s digestive system; that bacteria constitute most of the mass of living
organisms on the planet; and that 99.999 % of them are totally unknown to biologists.
Our readable core book by a
distinguished micro biologist, reads
almost like a detective story. And we’ll
supplement it with relevant videos.
So come join us in a fascinating 7 week exploration of the amazing world of microorganisms, that shows us how every larger organism is a complete ecosystem, and the new perspective this can give us on our lives and the lives of every creature on the planet. And bring your microbiome along for the ride.
After this SDG you’ll never again see yourself as an isolated individual, instead recognizing that we and all the other humans and animals are all colonies: walking islands of interconnected life.
Topics
Include:
Overview of the incredible universe that exists within the bodies of all living creatures: our microbiome. How microbes became visible in the 17th century by the invention of the microscope by Antony van Leeuwenhoek, master lens maker. How other investigators who followed focused on the role of microbes in disease-- but the bigger, more common story is one of symbiosis between microbe and host.
How symbiotic bacteria can play an important
role in animal development and sculpt animal bodies. That microbes
are beneficial to us, but they are still their own entities. They
can be our partners, but they are not necessarily our friends.
The Origins of the relationships between microbes and their hosts. Disrupting those relationships. Consequences of the intimate partnerships between microbes and their hosts for the fates of entire species. How bacteria, unlike higher animals, can carry out horizontal gene transfers from one individual to another.
How even buildings develop a microbiome as its occupants give off microbes with every breath, every touch. How buildings can be intentionally manipulated to benefit beneficial bacteria.
Weekly Topics:
1)
An overview of the World of Microbes
2)
An Overview of
Evolution and How it Relates to Microbes
4) Chapters 3 and 4 of core book and selected videos
5) Chapters 5 and 6
6) Chapters 7 and 8
7) Chapters 9 and 10 of core book and selected videos
Core Book: Yong, Ed; I Contain Multitudes - The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life; HarperCollins Publishers; 2016.
Among many glowing reviewers' comments regarding our core book:
Jack Gilbert, University of Chicago professor: "Yong has captured the essence of this exciting field, expressing the enthusiasm and wonder that the scientific community feels when working with the microbiome ... A rip-roaring read!"
Selected Videos