Microbiome

Origin

- + biome or microbiota + genome

Full definition of microbiome

Noun

1. The genetic information (genomes) of a microbiota.
• 2012-08, Defining the Human Microbiome, The human microbiota consists of the 10-100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells harbored by each person, primarily bacteria in the gut; the human microbiome consists of the genes these cells harbor.
2. A microbial biome, such as the community of microbes within the human gut.
• 2013-06-29, A punch in the gut, Mostly, the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism.
• 2014 , Second Genome, The microbiome creates the immediate environment for our genes as they play out their part in disease mechanisms.

Derived terms

• thanatomicrobiome

Related terms

• microbiota
• metagenomics

Further reading