You are free of the microbes only as a fetus because your mother transfers her microbiota right when you get pulled out of her.

What Is Microbiome?

A microbiome is a collection of microbes (composed of bacteria, bacteriophage, fungi, protozoa, and viruses) essential for humans to build an immune system and break down food to gain nutrition.

A mother transfers the optimum mix of her vaginal microbiome to her baby while giving birth to help the baby form a healthy community of gut microbes, which encourages breaking down milk sugars and carrying the nutrients absorbed into the bloodstream. This microbiome develops and evolves with genes, age, environment, habits, and medication.

Thus, babies born through C-Section experience higher risks of acquiring asthma and type-1 diabetes than babies born through normal deliveries. 

Why Is Gut Microbiome Important?

The gut microbiome is the first colony of microbes that form in the human body. The essential function it is breaking down food and transferring the nutrients acquired into the bloodstream. A healthy balance of gut microbes establishes a strong immune and supports GI activity, which maintains a stable and healthy body with an effective metabolism.

The Brain In The Gut

Apart from digestive chemicals, the gut is also layered with neurons similar to the brain that sends signals to the body. Thus, the serotonin secretion in the gut balances the mood, thinking, learning ability of the brain, and overall health. Scientists have discovered that a perfect balance of a specific type of bacterial population of the gut can aid in increased metabolism and reduce risk factors of getting Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and type-2 diabetes in the future. 

How Can This Information Be Used?

Mitochondria by itself is an evolved microbe so are the other microbes in our body. They vary from one part of the body to another and from one human to another causing various allergies, regressions, autoimmune diseases, and other health risks. 

Therefore, it’s important to understand the varieties of microbes and their role in particular against the disease or disorder that requires treatment.

Scientists have observed that examining the microbiota of a subject can indicate diseases and disorders that may arise well ahead of time compared to other testing methods. 

Mouse model trials have proven effective when the mouse with a selective disease was introduced to an appropriately modified gut microbiome.

However, these findings and trials are understudies considering the challenges in creating customized medicine because one medication for all won’t achieve the expected success rate due to diversity in humans’ microbe genealogy.

On a good note, dieticians and dermatologists have managed to use this data to create customized diets, workout routines, and skincare products based on the microbe population’s genealogy in an individual’s body.