8. Recently, scientists tested the possibility that humangut bacteria may play a role in determining bodyweight. The study subjects were four sets of twins(one set of identical twins and three sets of fraternaltwins), where one twin was of normal weight and theother was obese. Samples of their gut bacteria werecollected and transplanted into bacteria-free mice.Mice with the different bacterial transplants were allfed the same diet and monitored over the course ofabout one month. For each of the four twin pairs, themice with the bacteria from the obese twin gainedsignificantly more weight and fat than the mice transplanted with the bacteria from the normal twin.a. What would you conclude about the relationship between the human gut microbiome and body weight?b. Why were twins used in the study?c. Do the results of this study mean that human genes(genes in the nuclei of human cells) do not play arole in body weight and fat content? Explain.d. Mice are coprophagic, meaning that they eat feces.How could you test whether a certain bacterial speciesassociated with leanness or obesity could successfullyinvade the gut microbiome of an animal in which thatbacterial species was not previously found?e. One problem with using bacteria-free mice inexperiments such as this is that the mouse gut isnot equivalent to the human gut as a bacterial host:Different bacterial species thrive in mice andhumans. Explain how this fact could affect theexperiment discussed in this problem.
Bacterial Genomics
The study of the morphological, physiological, and evolutionary aspects of the bacterial genome is referred to as bacterial genomics. This subdisciplinary field aids in understanding how genes are assembled into genomes. Further, bacterial or microbial genomics has helped researchers in understanding the pathogenicity of bacteria and other microbes.
Transformation Experiment in Bacteria
In the discovery of genetic material, the experiment conducted by Frederick Griffith on Streptococcus pneumonia proved to be a stepping stone.
Plasmids and Vectors
The DNA molecule that exists in a circular shape and is smaller in size which is capable of its replication is called Plasmids. In other words, it is called extra-chromosomal plasmid DNA. Vectors are the molecule which is capable of carrying genetic material which can be transferred into another cell and further carry out replication and expression. Plasmids can act as vectors.
8. Recently, scientists tested the possibility that human
gut bacteria may play a role in determining body
weight. The study subjects were four sets of twins
(one set of identical twins and three sets of fraternal
twins), where one twin was of normal weight and the
other was obese. Samples of their gut bacteria were
collected and transplanted into bacteria-free mice.
Mice with the different bacterial transplants were all
fed the same diet and monitored over the course of
about one month. For each of the four twin pairs, the
mice with the bacteria from the obese twin gained
significantly more weight and fat than the mice transplanted with the bacteria from the normal twin.
a. What would you conclude about the relationship between the human gut microbiome and body weight?
b. Why were twins used in the study?
c. Do the results of this study mean that human genes
(genes in the nuclei of human cells) do not play a
role in body weight and fat content? Explain.
d. Mice are coprophagic, meaning that they eat feces.
How could you test whether a certain bacterial species
associated with leanness or obesity could successfully
invade the gut microbiome of an animal in which that
bacterial species was not previously found?
e. One problem with using bacteria-free mice in
experiments such as this is that the mouse gut is
not equivalent to the human gut as a bacterial host:
Different bacterial species thrive in mice and
humans. Explain how this fact could affect the
experiment discussed in this problem.
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