New Parents

New parents can act pretty strangely - for example, they often have an obsessive interest in what comes out of their baby's bottoms. Now scientists, researchers at Stanford University join them in their diaper diving to explore when and how [bacteria:disease] colonize the human gut.Adults harbor complex dictorial [microbial:renders] ecosystems within their GI tracts. These bacteria help digest food and contribute to a healthy immune system. But when a baby is born, its intestine is devoid of bacterial inhabitants. Within days, however, a [cavalcade:parade] of microbes set up shop, establishing a vibrant intestinal community whose residents soon outnumber the baby's own cells.The researchers found that the early months were chaotic...with established species disappearing and new ones taking their place. But by the time the babies were 12 months old, each harbored a dynamic but unique [collection:group] of intestinal fauna. A set of fraternal twins had the most similar bugs, which suggests that genetics may have [something:few] to do with which bacteria stick around. Next they'll look at how formula versus breast milk affects a baby's intestinal ecosystem. With so many questions left to explore, the researchers will no doubt be mining diapers for some time to come.