Bacteria Quote by Michael Pollan
““nine of every ten cells in our bodies belong not to us, but to these microbial species (most of them residents of our gut), and that 99 percent of the DNA we’re carrying around belongs to those microbes. Some scientists, trained in evolutionary biology, began looking at the human individual in a humbling new light: as a kind of superorganism, a community of several hundred coevolved and interdependent species.””
About This Quote
Source Book: This Is Your Mind, Michael Pollan, 2023
Humans host trillions of microbes; most of our DNA belongs to them, making us superorganisms.
In simple terms: We are ecosystems of microbes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize microbial influence.
Themes
biology
ecology
health
Mood
curious
inquisitive
Type
scientific
educational
When to use this quote
- diet choices
- medical treatment
- environmental exposure
- personal identity
Key Concepts
microbiome
symbiosis
evolutionary perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your lifestyle affect your microbiome?
- What can you do to nurture beneficial microbes?
A Different Perspective
Microbial composition varies widely; not all impacts are positive.
![“There are about 250,000 different species of fossil plants and animals known . . In spite of this large quantity of information, it is but a tiny fraction of the diversity that [according to the theory] actually lived in the past. There are well over a million species living today and . . [it is]…” quote by David M. Raup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/37b/david-m-raup-33751_animal_there-are-about-250-000-different-specie_264230.jpg)
