Bacteria Quote by A.G. Riddle
““Humans are actually reservoir hosts for countless bacteria and viruses that haven’t even been classified yet. About twenty percent of the genetic information in the nose doesn’t match any known or cataloged organism. In the gut, forty to fifty percent of all the DNA is from bacteria and viruses that have never been classified. Even in the blood, up to two percent is a sort of “biological dark matter.” In many ways, this biological dark matter, this sea of unknown viruses and bacteria, is the ultimate frontier.””
About This Quote
Most of the microorganisms in our bodies are unknown, representing a vast “biological dark matter” that is a frontier for science.
In simple terms: Much of our inner world is still unknown.
Key Takeaway
Explore the unseen microbes within us.
Themes
science
unknown
microbiology
Mood
curious
intrigued
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- clinical diagnostics
Key Concepts
microbiome research
viral discovery
Questions to Reflect On
- What could hidden microbes teach us?
- How might this knowledge change medicine?
A Different Perspective
The unknown may be harder to study than known organisms.
![“[Bacteria are the] dark matter of the biological world [with 4 million mostly unknown species in a ton of soil].” quote by E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bae/e-o-wilson-1348_bacteria_bacteria-are-the-dark-matter-of-the-biol_2826471.jpg)
