Do we have the genes to develop our "human bacteria" or ....

[Dory]

Or do they pass on from mom to offspring in the uterus?

[Pappa]

Can you elaborate a bit, I'm not sure what you mean.

[Azathoth]

I have read that they are passed on when ladies shit a bit as they give birth.

[Dory]

Can you elaborate a bit, I'm not sure what you mean.

Well, we have more bacteria than human cells. How do these bacteria come to be in us? At what age to they appear in our bodies? And how? Do we have the genes that code for them, or does mommy pass them on somehow...or...?

[Tero]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_flora

may well be that extended phenotype applies here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_phenotype

[Feck]

Can you elaborate a bit, I'm not sure what you mean.

Well, we have more bacteria than human cells. How do these bacteria come to be in us? At what age to they appear in our bodies? And how? Do we have the genes that code for them, or does mommy pass them on somehow...or...?

No human genes don't code for bacteria! in fact some of the organelles in our cells have thier own genes (cf mitochondrial DNA). Bacteria are passed on from mother to child at or after birth .

[Dory]

Can you elaborate a bit, I'm not sure what you mean.

Well, we have more bacteria than human cells. How do these bacteria come to be in us? At what age to they appear in our bodies? And how? Do we have the genes that code for them, or does mommy pass them on somehow...or...?

No human genes don't code for bacteria! in fact some of the organelles in our cells have thier own genes (cf mitochondrial DNA). Bacteria are passed on from mother to child at or after birth .

At or after? I'd imagine it's more specific.

[GenesForLife]

Here, Dory

Establishment of the intestinal microflora in neonates
Campeotto F, Waligora-Dupriet AJ, Doucet-Populaire F, Kalach N, Dupont C, Butel MJ.

Néonatologie et nutrition pédiatrique, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul, Université René Descartes, Paris, France.


Abstract

The intestinal microbiota is a complex ecosystem harbouring about 10(14) micro-organisms composed of nearly 400 hundred species. It plays various important functions in the gut, including metabolic, flora, barrier and stimulation of the intestinal immune system. Most studies have been based on culture, but more recent molecular biology techniques have provided complementary information. The formation of this ecosystem begins rapidly in the newborn; it is sterile at birth and is based on contact with the maternal flora and the surrounding environment. Although little is known about the factors leading to the development of bacteria, numerous external factors will affect the microbial succession: mode of delivery, environmental conditions, type of feeding, gestational age, and antibiotics. Recent data report a delay in intestinal colonization especially of enteric maternal bacteria. Which may be due to strict hygiene measures during birth. The clinical impact of these variations is not known but they could lead to lack of barrier flora or poor immune system stimulation in the gut. Modulation of gut microbiota in neonates with infant formulas containing either probiotics, prebiotics or non viable bacterias and their metabolites, or nucleotides is discussed.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17541346

Full article is not indexed, but may be found using paper details and google translate.

[Svartalf]

Can you elaborate a bit, I'm not sure what you mean.

Well, we have more bacteria than human cells. How do these bacteria come to be in us? At what age to they appear in our bodies? And how? Do we have the genes that code for them, or does mommy pass them on somehow...or...?

No human genes don't code for bacteria! in fact some of the organelles in our cells have thier own genes (cf mitochondrial DNA). Bacteria are passed on from mother to child at or after birth .

At or after? I'd imagine it's more specific.

It's a progressive thing.

Some of the most external ones are passed right at birth, or from the earliest contacts. Some others can only reach the baby later, from exposure to a non protective environment. One of the reasons they can't digest anything but milk for some time is that you need to wait for the flora to have been acquired and developed before you can feed them anything without causing major distress.

[Dory]

Can you elaborate a bit, I'm not sure what you mean.

Well, we have more bacteria than human cells. How do these bacteria come to be in us? At what age to they appear in our bodies? And how? Do we have the genes that code for them, or does mommy pass them on somehow...or...?

No human genes don't code for bacteria! in fact some of the organelles in our cells have thier own genes (cf mitochondrial DNA). Bacteria are passed on from mother to child at or after birth .

At or after? I'd imagine it's more specific.

It's a progressive thing.

Some of the most external ones are passed right at birth, or from the earliest contacts. Some others can only reach the baby later, from exposure to a non protective environment. One of the reasons they can't digest anything but milk for some time is that you need to wait for the flora to have been acquired and developed before you can feed them anything without causing major distress.

Thanks Svart, that clears it. Thanks for the article as well, Genes.