Question: What is the microbiome?

Katie Fala answered on 12 Nov 2019:

Great question! My research institute specialises in studying different microbiomes so I hope I can explain this one well for you! Basically, a microbiome is a somewhat balanced ecosystem consisting of an environment and the micro-organisms that live there. One of the best studied is the human gut microbiome – but there are others like the human skin microbiome. Animals also have different microbiomes in different locations on their bodies – there is a lot of study on the microbiome of the rumen in cows for example to improve the quality of dairy products and reduce methane emissions. Different foods, plants, soils, seas, will tend to have different microbiomes and the microorganisms living in these communities tend to be adapted to oneanother and to the particular environment. Let me know if you would like to know more about this!