Humans have 10 times as many bacterial cells (prokaryotes) living on and in us than we have eukaryotic cells that make up our bodies. These bacteria are called the human microbiome, or our normal microbial flora.
We have developed a symbiotic relationship with these bacteria where both we and they benefit. Without out normal flora, our health is adversely impacted.
Do little investigating using Google or any other search engine, or the UMUC library and identify the normal microbial flora in one of these locations on the body:
Skin
Mouth and throat
Eyes
Gut (intestines)
Identify and briefly describe what these bacteria do TO HELP US (these are beneficial bacteria, so you should not include info on pathogens–those that cause disease–but on the normal, helpful bacteria that live in beneficial symbiosis with us. What happens if we eliminate them through the use of antibiotics or antibacterial soaps or other products.
