Microbiome

Many organisms are microscopic—so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye.

All living things are made of cells.

Almost all cells are microscopic.

Even though they are both too small to see, cells are much bigger than molecules.

The human microbiome contains approximately 100 trillion microorganisms. Most of these are bacteria.

The human body provides an environment (food and space) for bacteria to survive.

A healthy microbiome has various helpful types of bacteria.

An infection of harmful bacteria in the human microbiome can make a person sick.

Antibiotics reduce the number of helpful and harmful bacteria in the microbiome.

Living things with fewer than normal helpful bacteria in their guts can become infected more easily because there is more food and space available for harmful bacteria.

a living thing, such as a plant, animal, or bacterium

the relative size of things

an organism that is too small to be seen with the naked eye

too small to be seen with the naked eye

the tiny structures that make up all living things and are the smallest units able to perform life functions

all of the microorganisms that live in a particular environment, such as a human body

tiny organisms that are made of a single cell

a proposed answer to a question about the natural world

information about the natural world that is used to support or go against (refute) a claim

the process of making clear how your evidence supports your claim

medicines that kill microorganisms, especially bacteria