Topic > Microbiome: Bacteria Control Our Genetics

New research is spurring exciting developments that show there are trillions of bacteria surviving inside our bodies and how this bacteria influences our genes. Science is driving us crazy with such mind-blowing yet fascinating information about new developments. We've always known bacteria as pathogens: the bad guys. Scientists are investigating whether these bacteria could lead to new treatments and their positive impact on humans. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay We are now learning the hard way that the common overuse of antibiotics, both as medicines and in our foods (they are fed to cattle and poultry keep them “healthy” until they are slaughtered for food purposes, antibiotics also promote growth of these animals through the same mechanisms by which their chronic use increases the risk of obesity in humans) is responsible for two serious health problems: global antibiotic resistance to serious infections; and damage to the human microbiome. There is a lot of research underway to explore the science of the microbiome (study of the bacterial communities that survive in our gut, on our skin or in our urine, in breast tissue or in our nose). Don't rely on their size - they seem quite small but the health impact is huge. They are beneficial and even necessary for the proper functioning of our body. They release chemicals that affect how we eat, digest and react to medications. The real question is “How is microbiome science related to genetics.” It's true that bacteria can affect genes, although they don't actually cause changes in DNA or RNA, but can instead cause a gene to turn on or off. Bacteria are responsible for causing inflammation which leads to alteration of genes. They have been shown to trigger the development of a variety of diseases including obesity, diabetes, cancer, asthma, cardiovascular disease and chronic pelvic pain. Biotechnology companies and researchers have come together to harness the potential of the microbiome in medicine. They are discovering ways to diagnose diseases by discovering microbial imbalances to treat diseases by solving them. New research led by the Babraham Institute Cambrige UK, has now revealed a potential way in which the good bacteria in our gut can regulate our genetic activity and possibly help prevent colorectal cancer. When certain bacteria in our gut are exposed to fruits and vegetables, short-chain fatty acid chemicals are produced. These short-chain fatty acids move from the bacteria to the cells lining the gut and trigger the production of a protein called HDAC2 and a group of chemical markers called crotonylations. To confirm that bacteria affect our genes, an international team of researchers collaborated to discover one of these epigenetic pathways, demonstrating how chemical messages produced by bacteria in the gut can initiate a process that ultimately turns certain genes on or off. They gave mice a cocktail of antibiotics to eradicate most of the bacteria in their intestines. In conclusion of the research, it was discovered that genes are influenced by our diet and that the activity of intestinal bacteria directly controls the expression of HDAC2 and the volume of crotonylations, which consequently influences the activity of some genes."Chain short Fatty acids are a key energy source for gut cells, but we have also shown that they influence the crotonylation of.