Page 17 - Introduction to Microbiology
P. 17
Microorganisms
• Microorganisms in the human body collectively make up to 100 trillion cells – 10 X
the number of human cells
– Majority of microorganisms reside in the human gut where they have a profound
influence on human physiology and nutrition and are crucial for human life
– Gut microbes contribute to energy harvest from food
– Changes in the gut microorganism population may be associated with bowel disease or
obesity
• Microorganisms show the greatest genetic and physiological diversity of all living
organisms
