Biol 20B: Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 12 — Gut Microbiome
Introduction In this lab, you will learn about one of my personal favorite topics, the gut microbiome. You will learn about how the bacteria in our digestive tract play a significant role in our lives.
Part I —Attending a Virtual Research Talk on the Gut Microbiome
For Part I, watch the recorded research talk below and answer the questions provided. Please note that there are questions to answer for both the main portion of the talk as well as the question & answer (Q&A) portion of the talk.
• Your Microbiome: What Is It, and How Can It Help Or Hurt You? by Dr. Sonnenburg (Stanford Gut Micriobiome Research Center)
Questions on the Main Portion of the Talk
1. What is your gut microbiome?
2. Where in your gut do most of the microbes in more body live?
3. Can microbes in the gut influence obesity? How was this figured out?
4. Can microbes in the gut influence your mood and behavior?
5. In general, what is better for your health: having a more diverse population of microbes or a more homogenous population of microbes?
6. What is the one thing that many chronic western diseases share in common?
7. Why is eating dietary fiber important for your gut microbiome?
8. What do your gut microbes eat when there isn’t any dietary fiber present in the gut?
9. What are at least three (3) ways that you can improve the diversity of your own microbiome?
10. What is an important consideration before buying any probiotic supplement?
11. Where in your body can inflammation occur?
12. Can the gut microbiome break the tight-junctions between epithelial tissues of your gut?
13. Why is it that our fruits and vegetables no longer have as much fiber as they used to have?
14. Why can over-grinding/over-blending (or otherwise highly refined) high-fiber foods reduce the amount of nutrients getting to your gut microbiome?
15. How can you replenish your gut microbiome after taking antibiotics?
Part II — Reflection on the Research Talk For Part II, answer the questions below.
7. Why is eating dietary fiber important for your gut microbiome?
8. What do your gut microbes eat when there isn’t any dietary fiber present in the gut?
9. What are at least three (3) ways that you can improve the diversity of your own microbiome?
10. What is an important consideration before buying any probiotic supplement?
11. Where in your body can inflammation occur?
12. Can the gut microbiome break the tight-junctions between epithelial tissues of your gut?
13. Why is it that our fruits and vegetables no longer have as much fiber as they used to have?
14. Why can over-grinding/over-blending (or otherwise highly refined) high-fiber foods reduce the amount of nutrients getting to your gut microbiome?
15. How can you replenish your gut microbiome after taking antibiotics?
Part III — Reflection on the Research Talk For Part II, answer the questions below.
1. What is the big take-away for you from watching this video? What has been most influential to hear about? Please write 3 sentences at least.
2. What further questions do you have? Write at least one question!
