4 ms·
If you were to simplify the human body to a sphere (or torus... or whatever corresponds with the number of orifices that a human has), then all of the microbiom
by __MatrixMan__ 2y ago
If you were to simplify the human body to a sphere (or torus... or whatever corresponds with the number of orifices that a human has), then all of the microbiomes you've listed would be on the exterior. The brain (and heart and kidneys and liver and bones and...) would not be.
The microflora would need to have gotten there somehow, something analogous to endosymbiosis. But unless they're somehow getting from brain-to-egg-to-brain that's hard to explain. As for the others, they're easier, all being along the surfaces. Even the gut is on the "outside" in that membranes need not be crossed in order to access it.
Although counterpoint: the same argument would apply to a fish so I guess it's not impossible. Just more surprising.
- Wilsoniumite 2y agoI think it depends a bit on how you count but I've heard it is an 8 holed donut
- __MatrixMan__ 2y agoIt also differs between individuals (e.g. one can develop a fistula).
- eru 2y agoOr get a piercing.
- InDubioProRubio 2y agoSo getting pierced, puts one topological outside of baseline humanity?
- __MatrixMan__ 2y agoI suppose it does. Be careful, you wouldn't want to end up homeomorphic to the wrong crowd.
- worksonmymach 2y agoIf I met a 8 holed donut I'd tear it a new one.
- __MatrixMan__ 2y agoI expect I'd start by tearing it one fewer: now a seven holed donut with some stubs.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- 725686 2y agoMichael Stevens of VSauce fame has you covered with his "How Many Holes Does a Human Have?" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egEraZP9yXQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egEraZP9yXQ
- tmnvix 2y agoThanks for mentioning this. I really enjoyed the video and learned a thing or two. Would recommend!
- weberer 2y agoWe already know of harmful pathogens that can infect the brain, such as Borreliosis. The only jump now is the fact that there could also exist harmless bacteria. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8232152/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8232152/
- adrian_b 2y agoSpirochetes are much more efficient than most bacteria at moving through very viscous media, which include the obstacles encountered when moving through an animal body. Thus, both the spirochetes causing Lyme disease and those causing syphilis have high chances of reaching even the brain, while traveling through the body. Fortunately, for the bacteria employing other means of locomotion it is usually more difficult to pass through many of the internal body tissues, as long as those are intact.
- mschuster91 2y ago> But unless they're somehow getting from brain-to-egg-to-brain that's hard to explain. There are pathways from the outside to the brain - most notably the nose and the eyes. The former have a known pathogen pathway (naegleria fowleri, a virtually 100% fatal parasite), the latter are actually an immunoprivileged site [1] and investigations are ongoing what the role of eyes is in the transmission of H5N1 bird flu. [1] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/eye-immune-privilege https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/eye-immune-pr... [2] https://www.unmc.edu/healthsecurity/transmission/2024/06/04/why-bird-flu-is-infecting-peoples-eyes/ https://www.unmc.edu/healthsecurity/transmission/2024/06/04/...