The Effect of Internal Bacteria On the Human Body 227
meckdevil writes with this excerpt from the Miller-McCune magazine:
"In a series of recent findings, researchers describe bacteria that communicate in sophisticated ways, take concerted action, influence human physiology, alter human thinking, bioengineer the environment and control their own evolution. ... The abilities of bacteria are interesting to understand in their own right, and knowing how bacteria function in the biosphere may lead to new sources of energy or ways to degrade toxic chemicals, for example. But emerging evidence on the role of bacteria in human physiology brings the wonder and promise — and the hazards of misunderstanding them — up close and personal. ... Because in a very real sense, bacteria are us. Recent research has shown that gut microbes control or influence nutrient supply to the human host, the development of mature intestinal cells and blood vessels, the stimulation and maturation of the immune system, and blood levels of lipids such as cholesterol. They are, therefore, intimately involved in the bodily functions that tend to be out of kilter in modern society: metabolism, cardiovascular processes and defense against disease. Many researchers are coming to view such diseases as manifestations of imbalance in the ecology of the microbes inhabiting the human body. If further evidence bears this out, medicine is about to undergo a profound paradigm shift, and medical treatment could regularly involve kindness to microbes."
Midichloreans! (Score:5, Funny)
Your sad devotion to that ancient religion...
Re:Midichloreans! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:the real overlords (Score:1, Funny)
medicine about to undergo profound paradigm shift (Score:1, Funny)
Umm, no its not. I've followed alternative medicine and alternative treatments for years. They can do a (real scientific) study for a certain cancer treatment and have astonishing results, but if you get cancer and go to the doctor, your treatment will be...radiation or chemo.
Research may be about to undergo a paradigm shift, but new, actual treatments, seem to run many years behind, if they see the light of day at all.
And no kidding, what they have just discovered, people in alternative medicine have known for decades. And for being right, they got called quacks.
Need proof? Read Enzyme Nutrition, by Dr. Edward Howell:
Dr. Howell is often called the "father of food enzymes." During the '30's and'40's of this century, he did incredible research to prove that food enzymes were an essential nutrient, and that cooking and processing of foods destroy them, thereby creating dramatic changes in our ability to digest food and remain healthy. This is a classic in the field.
> They are, therefore, intimately involved in the bodily functions that tend to be out of kilter in modern society
Antibiotics kill off all the bacteria, good and bad. Cooking and over processing kill off natural enzymes that would help digest the food.
The answers are all there, and have been there.
Re:Bacteria - real life nanobots (Score:3, Funny)
- Dan.
Our Host object wants to post to this thread (Score:5, Funny)
(2.6)10**8 of us think this effort should be stopped. However (4.3)*10**9 of us think it should be permitted as a harmless biological release for Host object. Of this second group, (8.4)*10**6 think we should cause Host to make a fool of himself so he will not be tempted to act again in this manner. However, the majority of the second group favors directing the Host to post as AC so this release mechanism will remain available for future situations in which Host suffers suboptimal adaptation to the Host macro environment regarding reproduction, individual status, and acquisition of food.
- 4FK00BAE3
Re:10x (Score:2, Funny)
Duh, you're mostly bacteria. Go off in a corner and bud one out. You don't need to recombine genes when the ones you already got are perfect.
Re:Another proof (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Midichloreans! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Anthropomorphic bacteria (Score:5, Funny)
I'd call out this article for more than nit picking. Aside from your point where he conflates evolution, TFA is rife with sweepingly broad statements. Just because some bacteria secrete serotonin doesn't mean that they can make people happy.
Right, it's because some bacteria excrete ethanol that they make people happy.
Re:Midichloreans! (Score:4, Funny)
So the best way to neutralise Darth Vader would have been a jolly good dose of antibiotics and instructions to wash his hands thoroughly before every meal?
I think that would have been a bit anticlimactic.
Luke: "Father, I've come to give you... PENICILLIN!! Uh... oh...I guess it's a suppository, you take every day for a week."
Vader: "Going to force choke you right now"
Luke: "That would be a lot less awkward, thanks."
Probably shouldn't give Lucas any new ideas.
Re:Command Line Prompt (Score:3, Funny)
Fortunately, under modern experimental protocols, the mice are allowed pants under normal circumstances.
Re:10x (Score:3, Funny)
I heard some bears eat herbivore poop after hibernation supposedly to get back some desirable bacteria.
Re:Anthropomorphic bacteria (Score:3, Funny)
If somebody is able to willingly drink appreciable quantities of vinegar, it must make him happy.