In a recent discovery from the dean of Harvard Medical School, Jerry Finer, has found that certain gut bacteria can make you either thinner or fatter. Researchers are still curious which bacteria is causing this but the implications of these microorganisms leading to obesity or malnutrition is amazing. In a test with mice they were given the gut bacteria of a thin man and obese man. The mice that received the thin man's bacteria grew thiner and the mice that were given the more obese man's bacteria. The scientist who did the experiment are unsure which bacteria this is but this could help fight starvation and obesity in the world. However these bacteria cannot thrive unless they are given the right food to survive then there effects are destroyed. So even if someone receives more of the bacteria they need it will not last long unless they maintain a healthy diet. If this bacteria can be manipulated and can be used as a obesity manipulated it could be one of the best hopes for a obesity cure we have and could lead to the extension of a humans life.
Bibliography: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/health/gut-bacteria-from-thin-humans-can-slim-mice-down.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
I have heard many things like this, but on the other hand, I find testing on these mice is cruel. I understand that they need to test this bacteria, but these mice are living too!
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting. i doesn't sound to healthy to me and if this is the case with a lot of people, it might be good to try to find some sort of a solution.
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