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Once a gene has started expressing, it's pretty hard to flip the switch back to the off position. Losing the microbes is a big problem. It's just going to get

Once a gene has started expressing, it's pretty hard to flip the switch back to the off position. Losing the microbes is a big problem. It's just going to get worse. People seem to have this fetish for anti-bacterial everything.. soaps, coatings, etc. They take anti-biotics even for viral issues then they wonder why they start developing a new health problem they didn't have before, like a mood disorder or an autoimmune issue.

olliej 4y ago
What did the lost microbes do? If they helped digest things that aren't part of our diet then the there would be no selective pressure maintaining them, so they could be easily dropped, independent of the issues of vast over-application of antibiotics, etc. Over application of antibiotics and anti-bacterial stuff is clearly causing problems, but that's not the only thing that is happening that impacts something as complex as the gut. Just as with genes, the microbiome is under constant selective pressure from evolution, and we will - over time - gain new microbes as we lose ones that aren't beneficial.
thelittleone 4y ago
Here in Indonesia, antibiotics can be bought over the counter without a prescription. Many people self medicate for a cough or runny nose (they don't distinguish whether viral or bacterial, most likely the average worker doesn't know the difference). Few have the luxury to take a sick day so the pressure is on.
- Sunspark 4y ago
  This should be an election issue, that Indonesia should not be selling antibiotics without a prescription. Stupid people take them just a little then stop, and as a result are continually training tuberclosis and other bacteria to become antibiotic resistant. Then when they can't treat things anymore, surprised Indonesian faces all around. What if the West doesn't have anything new for them? Time to die. Before antibiotics, was not a fun time and we're heading back there soon.

olliej 4y ago

What did the lost microbes do? If they helped digest things that aren't part of our diet then the there would be no selective pressure maintaining them, so they could be easily dropped, independent of the issues of vast over-application of antibiotics, etc. Over application of antibiotics and anti-bacterial stuff is clearly causing problems, but that's not the only thing that is happening that impacts something as complex as the gut. Just as with genes, the microbiome is under constant selective pressure from evolution, and we will - over time - gain new microbes as we lose ones that aren't beneficial.

thelittleone 4y ago

Here in Indonesia, antibiotics can be bought over the counter without a prescription. Many people self medicate for a cough or runny nose (they don't distinguish whether viral or bacterial, most likely the average worker doesn't know the difference). Few have the luxury to take a sick day so the pressure is on.

Sunspark 4y ago
This should be an election issue, that Indonesia should not be selling antibiotics without a prescription. Stupid people take them just a little then stop, and as a result are continually training tuberclosis and other bacteria to become antibiotic resistant. Then when they can't treat things anymore, surprised Indonesian faces all around. What if the West doesn't have anything new for them? Time to die. Before antibiotics, was not a fun time and we're heading back there soon.