Human Microbiome: Your Body Is an Ecosystem Quiz

an experiment in which people were placed inside a room that was as free of microbes as possible

a species of bacteria that can help protect our skin against fungi and yeast but can also cause infections and life-threatening diseases

a community of living things that interact with each other and with the non-living things in their environment

a group of scientists studying how microorganisms work in our bodies, and learning about the balance among different bacterial communities

microbes in and on the human body

plants and animals living in the ocean

an experiment in which scientists measured bacterial “clouds”

the effects of antibiotic drugs on our microbiomes

Scientists call bacteria that are harmless to humans “commensal.”

Antibacterial hand sanitizers can wipe out all bacteria on a patch of skin.

Microbes are the oldest form of life on Earth, having first appeared over 3.5 billion years ago.

Some microbes benefit humans, while other microbes harm humans.

to indicate that the word is being used in a different way than usual

to quote the scientists who were doing the experiment

to express surprise that clouds appeared inside a room

to suggest that the measurements recorded by the scientists may not have been accurate

No two human microbiomes are the same.

The human body is a diverse ecosystem made up of microbes.

Some bacteria cause infections and even life-threatening diseases.

Some scientists think that infants who lack exposure to microorganisms develop a higher rate of allergies.