Item — HN Reader

I read that article, but this article cleverly circumvents the challenges that article raised.

By not needing measure the microbiome the testing pains are avoided. And though mouse models aren't human, they are effectively blinded.

Seems like a very worthy finding that adds to the legitimacy of microbiome's significance.

1 comments

However, they're comparing against no gut bacteria at all, a condition never found in nature. Gut bacteria are necessary for mammals to digest some foods. "Eliminating all gut bacteria harms fetal development" could be another title.

It'd be more interesting to compare different plausible microbiomes.

I think there is a problem with defining what a plausible microbiome even is!

> However, they're comparing against no gut bacteria at all, a condition never found in nature.

Maybe not in nature, but I wonder if it's a similar situation to human mothers who have recently taken a heavy course of antibiotics.

IIUC, that can somewhat nuke one's gut flora.