Probiotics versus Microbiome Engineering (Biotechnology and Society 2016)

Probiotics versus Microbiome Engineering (Biotechnology and Society 2016)

Everyone

There are lots of silly microbiome pictures out there. (Image from this site) ]

Required Reading/Viewing

1. [1] "How our microbes make us who we are". (17 min)
   Talk by Rob Knight about the human microbiome, Feb 2014.
2. [2] "Microbiome engineering." Sonnenburg on potential applications of microbiome engineering.
3. [3] Brief description of four companies currently designing microbiome therapies.
4. NIH Microbiome Project. Ethical concerns of microbiome research and probiotics. Read abstract for each section.
   

1. Fecal Transplants

Required Reading/Viewing

1. Soylent.com
   Watch their intro video "What is Soylent?" (2 min).
2. [4] History of fecal transplants.
3. [5] Slideshow summary of fecal microbiome transplants by gastroenterologists (some medical jargon, but informative).
4. [6] Do it yourself fecal transplants. Yep.

2. Microbiome and Obesity

Required Reading/Viewing

1. [7] Summary of possible mechanisms relating gut microbiome to obesity.
   
2. [8] Recent review critiquing microbiome role in obesity.

3. Microbiome after birth: caesarean vs vaginal birth

Required Reading/Viewing

1. Duke, S.O., Powles, S.B. (2008) Glyphosate: a once-in-a-century herbicide. Pest Manag Sci. 64:319-325
   Review of the development of glyphosate and resistant GM crops, and evolution of resistant weeds.
   Link to article

Extra Links for the Policy Czar

1. Official Monsanto Roundup Timeline – Click on the Roundup link in the interactive history presentation

4. Oral Microbiome Engineering

Required Reading/Viewing

1. Rethink Water DK. Rethinking Fish Farming
   Watch video (5 min)

Extra Links for the Policy Czar

1. AquaBounty website - See especially the FAQ under "Innovation".