Gut microbes followed migrating humans across continents, new study suggests

New research looks at the surprising similarities in the gut microbiomes of hunter-gathers in Tanzania and horticulturalists in Bolivia, and asks: What role do these bacteria play in human health?

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2272x1704+0+0/resize/2272x1704!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2F5d%2F1e6c188f4e07916b03b5f25caedc%2Ftacuaral-and-jamanchi-077.jpg' alt='A Tsimane extended family gets ready for the morning, while a large pot of manioc roots cooks in preparation to make <em>shocdye</em>, a local fermented brew.'/><p>New research looks at the surprising similarities in the gut microbiomes of hunter-gathers in Tanzania and horticulturalists in Bolivia, and asks: What role do these bacteria play in human health?</p><p>(Image credit: Michael Gurven)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5987874' />