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They're not sure whether this stems from genetics or environment - they say they think it's genetics, but there might be a simple environmental explanation: Th

They're not sure whether this stems from genetics or environment - they say they think it's genetics, but there might be a simple environmental explanation: The main way people exchange mouth bacteria is through dating, and there's a huge tendency to date people of similar ethnicity.

humannature 13y ago
It's human nature, it's in our DNA. People like to hang out w/ those that look like them, they feel more comfortable. Yes there are outliers here and there, but for the most part, I can bet 70%+ of the people reading this are as follows: if you are Asian, I bet most of your good friends are Asian, if you white, then most of your good friends are white, and so on and so forth. It's not racism, it's just human nature that starts early on. If you grew up in America you know what I'm talking about, ever notice how young kids including yourself start naturally forming groups late in elementary school? if not then definitely around middle school. Whites hang out with the whites, Asians hang out with the Asians, Latinos w/ Latinos, blacks w/ blacks, etc..
- prawn 13y ago
  I don't think that was being questioned at any point. The comment is about whether people share similarities in their microbiome because of their genetic background or because they hang around with people generally of the same background.
- thaumasiotes 13y ago
  Kids form groups much earlier than you seem to think they do.
prawn 13y ago
"Instead, people's background—in terms of foods they ate and other lifestyle trends—didn't seem to have any correlation with the bacterial communities in their mouths." I wondered about general interaction and intimacy too, but there doesn't seem to be enough info to make a call either way. The quote above doesn't really cover it. "Lifestyle trends" doesn't really cover interacting with each other.
popularopinion 13y ago
The main way people exchange mouth bacteria is through dating This is not correct. During birth, babies are exposed to their mother's vaginal fluid which then transfers bacteria into the baby's mouth. This transfer introduces a nice bacterial balance and makes it more difficult for a single species of bacteria to monopolize the mouth and digestive system. This exchange doesn't occur when babies are born via C-section, so doctors usually swab some of the mothers vaginal fluid in the baby's mouth so he will also have a healthy balance of bacteria. See here for more info http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2010/06/22/babys-first-bacteria-depend-on-birth-route http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2010/06/22/babys-firs...
- fragsworth 13y ago
  Heh, I didn't consider that, but it doesn't hurt my suggestion at all since the baby will be the same ethnicity as its parents.

humannature 13y ago

It's human nature, it's in our DNA. People like to hang out w/ those that look like them, they feel more comfortable. Yes there are outliers here and there, but for the most part, I can bet 70%+ of the people reading this are as follows: if you are Asian, I bet most of your good friends are Asian, if you white, then most of your good friends are white, and so on and so forth. It's not racism, it's just human nature that starts early on. If you grew up in America you know what I'm talking about, ever notice how young kids including yourself start naturally forming groups late in elementary school? if not then definitely around middle school. Whites hang out with the whites, Asians hang out with the Asians, Latinos w/ Latinos, blacks w/ blacks, etc..

prawn 13y ago
I don't think that was being questioned at any point. The comment is about whether people share similarities in their microbiome because of their genetic background or because they hang around with people generally of the same background.
thaumasiotes 13y ago
Kids form groups much earlier than you seem to think they do.

prawn 13y ago

"Instead, people's background—in terms of foods they ate and other lifestyle trends—didn't seem to have any correlation with the bacterial communities in their mouths." I wondered about general interaction and intimacy too, but there doesn't seem to be enough info to make a call either way. The quote above doesn't really cover it. "Lifestyle trends" doesn't really cover interacting with each other.

popularopinion 13y ago

The main way people exchange mouth bacteria is through dating This is not correct. During birth, babies are exposed to their mother's vaginal fluid which then transfers bacteria into the baby's mouth. This transfer introduces a nice bacterial balance and makes it more difficult for a single species of bacteria to monopolize the mouth and digestive system. This exchange doesn't occur when babies are born via C-section, so doctors usually swab some of the mothers vaginal fluid in the baby's mouth so he will also have a healthy balance of bacteria. See here for more info http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2010/06/22/babys-first-bacteria-depend-on-birth-route http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2010/06/22/babys-firs...

fragsworth 13y ago
Heh, I didn't consider that, but it doesn't hurt my suggestion at all since the baby will be the same ethnicity as its parents.