Download PDF Here The bacteria present in your gut, mouth, skin and other sites in the your body are often referred to collectively as the Microbiome or second genome. Composed of more than a 100 trillion microorganisms the Microbiome outnumbers the total number of genes by a factor of 100 to 1. This means, for every gene in your genomethere are 100 bacterial genes. Genomic technology now has the capacity to view this second genome by sequencing specific regions or variable regions in the bacterial genome. It is these variable regions that enable bacteria to be identified down to species level. Each bacterial species has a unique finger print. This means that the analysis is similar to a crime scene investigation. If the sequence is detected then that particular bacteria is present in your gut.
