Imagine yourself as the head of a funding agency (like the National Institute of Health) in which your job is to look at proposals for research projects and decide what projects to award funding to. Based on your readings this term, discuss a research project (or projects) that you would be most excited about funding…

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…

In W. P. Hanage’s article, he discusses the importance of five key questions when interpreting scientific literature: Can experiments detect differences that matter? Does the study show causation or correlation? What is the mechanism? How much do experiments reflect reality? Could anything else explain the results? Explain the significance that each of these questions have…

Describe how microbial communities in the body could influence brain and mental health states. Then describe how brain and mental health states could influence microbial communities in the body. In what ways might these promote health and/or disease? Microbial communities across different sites on the body do effect mental health the the health of the…

Reflect on the peer-review process with you as the reviewer. How did it feel to read and critique someone else’s writing? What did you learn that you can apply to your own writing as you revise your final essay? I actually enjoyed reading other peoples essays. It was really interesting to read about the topics…

Describe the process of peer review to someone who does not frequently read scientific articles. In your response, consider the pros and cons of peer review and how that might impact the credibility of the results that come from that scientific article. Peer review is a process in which someone of a similar educational background…

List and describe as many changes in human behaviors as you can think of that contributes to a decreased exposure to microbes. antibiotics- decrease exposure by killing or impacting growth of microbes cleaners/antimicrobial products/hand-washing/hand sanitizers- eliminates exposure to microbes, usually for the better because they kill pathogenic microbes, but also kill microbes that could be…

One thing I have found really intressting is how connected everything is. It makes sense that everything interacts with eachother but how much of the body can be affected by the gut microbiome and how it can be so different between people but everyone has the same basic way of breaking down food. How can…

List and describe potential factors that the mother or the infant could be exposed to that could influence the colonization of the microbial community in the newborn infant (in positive or negative ways). antibiotics- if taken in utero can have an effect on what bacteria is present during development of an infant, most likely negative…

Describe your personal philosophy about how and when you have taken, or would take, antibiotics. What experiences or prior knowledge do you have that shaped that personal philosophy? I have taken antibiotics and if I were prescribed them again I would probably take them. I personally have taken antibiotics for strep and I only noticed…