Part 1: Set a timer for 3 minutes, and make a list of as many human non-infectious diseases that you can think of that are influenced by microorganisms.
Non-infectious diseases that are influenced by microorganisms include, autoimmune disorders, obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, brain and gastric cancer, ulcers, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, asthma, and Alzheimers.
Part 2: Refer back to your Writing Exercise #1 that you completed the first week of class. Reflect and discuss how your responses have changed from week 1 to week 10, and what the most important topics you will take away with you once you have completed the course.
In the beginning of the course, we were asked to list non-infectious diseases that are influenced by microorganisms, and that was a struggle for me because I almost knew none. Previous knowledge that I had about microbiota was from my microbiology course and my immunology, but gut microbiota was not the focus especially in terms of the relationship to diseases. From what I have learned and experienced through this course, I now feel as if I have an understanding on how microbiota within the gut can have a powerful effect our health all throughout our body. The most important topic that I will take away after I complete this course is the the way in which I can promote my health through probiotics. In addition, I now have a new outlook on antibiotics and their effects to my health, and in the future I will limit my use of them.
