2019 August 18
Explanation:
You are a spaceship soaring through the universe.
So is your
dog.
We all carry with us trillions of
microorganisms as we go through life.
These multitudes of
bacteria,
fungi, and
archaea have different
DNA than you.
Collectively called your microbiome, your
shipmates outnumber your own cells.
Your crew members form
communities,
help
digest food, engage in
battles
against intruders, and sometimes commute on a
liquid superhighway from one end of
your body to the other.
Much of what your
microbiome does, however,
remains unknown.
You are the
captain, but being nice to
your crew
may allow you to explore more of your
local cosmos.