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So will tapeworms. Be careful what you wish for.

by waqf 13y ago

Groxx 13y ago
That's a very good point. It's awfully similar, though hopefully the lean-bacteria won't have as many bad side-effects :)
- xionon 13y ago
  It's not similar at all. Your body already has several pounds worth of bacteria in it. Hopefully, your body has zero tapeworms. This is talking about bacteria already in a healthy person's body.
  - Groxx 13y ago
    tapeworm vs bacteria, parasite vs parasite, symbiotic or otherwise. and you have plenty of other parasites. edit: maybe a simpler example. Try to describe why tapeworms are different from bacteria, without using "multicellular". both can cause harm. both eat your food. both can result in weight loss.
    - xionon 13y ago
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_flora http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_flora Bacteria that aid in weight control don't just "eat your food," they actually help your body break down food correctly. That's why you take a pro-biotic after going through a round of anti-biotics - you need to re-grow your gut flora to aid in proper digestion.
oblique63 13y ago
Sure, but this is talking about existing symbiotic bacterial communities that already inhabit healthy lean people anyway. The idea is to just transplant these into obese subjects and let them establish that same relationship in their new host. The title is misleading because we don't actually know whether it's the addition or subtraction of certain bacteria that produces the effects of obesity, just that the colonies are different.
bayesianhorse 13y ago
Tapeworms have a parasitic relationship whereas most gut flora usually has a symbiotic relationship with the host. The line is kind of blurry, and it get's complicated, but there is no such thing as a sterile gut under normal condition. Hosts and "guests" have evolved together, so most gut bacteria won't become a problem most of the time. Exceptions abound, of course. Tapeworms on the other hand have tons of side effects which the original donors of the gut bacteria don't seem to display...

So will tapeworms. Be careful what you wish for.

by waqf 13y ago

So will tapeworms. Be careful what you wish for.

Groxx 13y ago

That's a very good point. It's awfully similar, though hopefully the lean-bacteria won't have as many bad side-effects :)

xionon 13y ago
It's not similar at all. Your body already has several pounds worth of bacteria in it. Hopefully, your body has zero tapeworms. This is talking about bacteria already in a healthy person's body.
- Groxx 13y ago
  tapeworm vs bacteria, parasite vs parasite, symbiotic or otherwise. and you have plenty of other parasites. edit: maybe a simpler example. Try to describe why tapeworms are different from bacteria, without using "multicellular". both can cause harm. both eat your food. both can result in weight loss.
  - xionon 13y ago
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_flora http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_flora Bacteria that aid in weight control don't just "eat your food," they actually help your body break down food correctly. That's why you take a pro-biotic after going through a round of anti-biotics - you need to re-grow your gut flora to aid in proper digestion.

oblique63 13y ago

Sure, but this is talking about existing symbiotic bacterial communities that already inhabit healthy lean people anyway. The idea is to just transplant these into obese subjects and let them establish that same relationship in their new host. The title is misleading because we don't actually know whether it's the addition or subtraction of certain bacteria that produces the effects of obesity, just that the colonies are different.

bayesianhorse 13y ago

Tapeworms have a parasitic relationship whereas most gut flora usually has a symbiotic relationship with the host. The line is kind of blurry, and it get's complicated, but there is no such thing as a sterile gut under normal condition. Hosts and "guests" have evolved together, so most gut bacteria won't become a problem most of the time. Exceptions abound, of course. Tapeworms on the other hand have tons of side effects which the original donors of the gut bacteria don't seem to display...