Anthropology of Microbes

In “Anthropology of Microbes,” the team of authors bridges the gap between anthropology and human microbiology. The main contention is that the anthropological lens provides a unique way to evaluate our cultural and biological diversity (1). They use the term “microbiome” to describe the catalog of microbial species as well as the millions of microbial genes, which has been defined by DNA sequencing. The microbiome is the overlapping point between both fields of study. The article talks about how anthropology takes into account social, dietary, and political-economic factors that formulate human microbiomes, and addresses how these factors help scientists in both fields understand the genomic and metabolic functions of the symbiosis between microbes and humans (1).

            The two most interesting parts of the article to me were about how the study of microbes helps us to develop and evolve our sense of personal identity as a human race and about how food is perhaps the most significant intersection point between the two fields of study (2). The authors point out that despite the fact that Homo sapiens are more than 99% identical biologically, the microbial genes that we have are substantially different. Not only do these microbes reflect people we have lived with and the places we go to on a daily basis, but also a great deal about our diets. The article later delves into the idea that food represents another intersection between social and biological needs. This leads to a discussion about how interdisciplinary study will be necessary to improve the quantity, quality and nutritional value of food produced. In the end, this article is making an argument that the intersection between anthropology and human microbiology is not just a cool, new, innovative way to approach the microbiome. There are real stakes, including the nutritional value of food and our personal identity as human beings.