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.

asthma, diabetes, obesity, allergies, cancer, psoriasis, crohns, colitis,

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.

I had only listed cancer and alzheimers in my writing exercise 1. I have learned that microbes effect the entire body and I have also learned about more non-infectious diseases that exist. I listed many more diseases than I did on exercise 1. The important topics I will take with me are how there are many factors that influence your health and your microbiota and that microorganisms play a huge role in overall health. I think it is important that people know there are things they can control like diet and exercise, antibiotics you take, probiotics, etc. that effect their microbiota and to keep yourself healthy has so many benefits. At the same time it is also important to know that there are things you cannot control like genetics that also effect you.