Episode Information

The Human Microbiome takes viewers on a journey through the vast universe of microscopic life that comprises over 99% of the DNA and between 50% to 90% of the cells in our bodies - and the epidemic rise of non-communicable diseases, from allergies to Alzheimers to cancer, that plague the developed world. Episode 1 reveals that only by understanding ourselves as ecosystems, rather than singular organisms, can we understand and defeat the diseases that destroy millions of lives each year. From the connection between vaginal delivery and the development of the immune system in newborn infants, to the packs of viruses who hunt for invasive bacteria in our mucosal membranes and can be harnessed to combat antibiotic resistance, to the connections between the bacteria in our gut, our mental health, and obesity, the first episode in The Edge of Wonder series reveals one of the most fascinating dimensions of human biology – one that is only just beginning to come to light.