Did you know your body is made up of 70-90% the genes of another species? Those genes are the bacteria/microbiome that live on and in us. We are more them than us!
I looked to the web for a description of what genes do:
Each gene has a special job. Some genes are inherited from our parents and determine things like our eye color and how tall we are. The DNA in a gene also spells out specific instructions—much like in a cookbook recipe — for making proteins in the cells. Proteins are the building blocks for everything in your body. Bones and teeth, hair and earlobes, muscles and blood, are all made up of proteins. Those proteins help our bodies grow, work properly, and stay healthy.
- KidsHealth
Maybe a reader can add to this description?
Emerging thought is our microbiome may also play a big role in signaling instructions that affect bodily functions like digestion, respiration, emotions, and who knows what else?
So Stanford research is set to find out more.
A fascinating, never-been-done before research project is underway at Stanford called Microbiome Individuality and Stability Over Time. Science is starting to think that not only what we eat, but the order in which we eat it, might affect the microbiome in our gut.
To test this theory, the study is looking for participants who will consume the same meal for one week. All of the day’s meals will be the same (breakfast, lunch and dinner). I’m the R & D chef and we created a vegetable, meat and rice bowl with a savory gravy that will come frozen for reheating. It's good - honestly I think it's the best bowl on the market. We call it a Microbiotic Bowl. (microbe-biotic, get it? :) There is meat in the bowl because it's true, the average American eats meat.


You pick the week to do the study.
So join us as a study participant and let's really Food Party!
Recruiting healthy adults to participate in an exciting new study
Microbiome Individuality and Stability Over time
We want to know…
How diet affects the composition of the microbial species living in the large intestine. What effect would an identical diet have on different individuals?
You may qualify if you are:
• 18 years of age or older and in general good health
• Do not currently have any chronic diseases
• Do not currently suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or irritable bowel syndrome
Participants will be asked to:
1. Consume only the food provided by study personnel for one week. The same meal will be given for all of the day’s meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner will be the same)
2. Not consume during this week any coffee, tea, other drinks, or snacks
3. Provide blood, stool, and urine samples, and complete questionnaires asking about gastrointestinal symptoms
4. Keep food logs for a few days before study week
Study participants will receive:
• All meals for one week
• Analysis of microbiome composition through the study
If you are interested, please contact Dalia Perelman
Email: daliap@stanford.edu Phone: 650-569-0462
Protocol Director: Timothy W. Meyer, twmeyer@stanford.edu
For general information regarding questions, concerns, or complaints about research, research related injury, or the rights of research participants, please call (650) 723-5244 or toll-free 1-866-680-2906, You can also write to the Stanford IRB, Stanford University, 3000 El Camino Real, Five Palo Alto Square, 4th Floor, Palo Alto, CA 94306.