Bacterial zoo on our skin

David Pescovitz 3:42 pm Tue Feb 6, 2007

Researchers report that our skin is host to more than 182 different species of bacteria. Dr. Martin Blaser of the New York University School of Medicine and his colleagues swabbed the arms of six healthy people and took a DNA census on what they found. From Reuters:

"We identify about 182 species," Blaser said in an interview. "And based on those numbers, we estimate there are probably at least 250 species in the skin…"

The researchers noted that microbes in the body actually outnumber human cells 10-to-1.

"Our microbes are actually, in essence, a part of our body," Blaser said.

"We think that many of the normal organisms are protecting the skin. So that's why I don't think it's a great idea to keep washing all the time because we're basically washing off one of our defense layers," Blaser added.

Link

Previously on BB:
• Books bound in human skin Link
• Low-carb diets eliminate zits Link

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