Microbiota - twins and siblings

Your genetic makeup is an important factor determining what your microbiota looks like. Let's explore the close relationship between diet and genes.

The example used is the one of two twins, whom are genetically identical. However, their microbiome is not identical, due to the different environmental factors that they were exposed. Twin number one doesn't like veggies, and twin number two is vegan. They also have a sister who can eat everything. She is genetically different that the twins, so if we compare the twins with her, their microbiome becomes very similar, but if we compare the sister microbiome with other people outside her family, all three of the siblings share more similarities. The reasons behind this observation lays within their genes and their shared environment. They are born by the same mother and they are often eating same food.

Looking even wider, they share common similarities with the whole human race, compared with the rest of the animals. The genetic background is a very important co-founder for microbiota's composition, influencing the elusive relationship between your own microbes and the diet. The way of how each host microbes evolved in case of humans is clearly distinct from that of other animals. Even the genetic differences between different human beings influences the microbiota composition.

In conclusion, the transmission of our microbiota and the establishment of a stable microbiota depends on environment, genetic information and diet (eating habits).

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