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Your Feces Is a Wonderland of Viruses

sciencehabit writes "Thanks to an anlaysis of fecal samples from four sets of Missouri-born female identical twins and their mothers, researchers have concluded that human guts harbor viruses as unique as the people they inhabit; the viral lineup differs even between identical twins. Even more surprising? These viruses may be doing good work inside of us."

211 comments

  1. How wonderful! by electricprof · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't I feel special!

    1. Re:How wonderful! by FreonTrip · · Score: 3, Funny

      You are a beautiful and unique poo-flake. And so am I! POO BROTHERS!

    2. Re:How wonderful! by inKubus · · Score: 2, Funny

      We're poo of a kind!

      --
      Cool! Amazing Toys.
    3. Re:How wonderful! by RJFerret · · Score: 1

      From the article's first line:

      Snowflakes haven't cornered the market on uniqueness.

      You may not feel special, but think how snowflakes feel, they aren't unique, researchers have found dupes, yet people such as the article's author keep throwing it in their non-unique faces.

    4. Re:How wonderful! by cgpirre · · Score: 1

      Throwing unique feces in their non-unique faces...

    5. Re:How wonderful! by supertrinko · · Score: 1

      I'm sure you do, but the chicks from two girls one cup are crushed!

      --
      If it rhymes it must be true.
  2. Your Feces is a Wonderland by Evro · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... I love that song.

    --
    rooooar
    1. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Should be "Your Feces Are a Wonderland of Viruses". The word feces is plural.

    2. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Should be "Your Feces are Wonderlands of Viri"

    3. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wrong. Virus is not a 2nd declension masculine term so going virus -> viri is incorrect. Did you get your education from a school taught by retards?

    4. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by Conchobair · · Score: 1

      succedful troll was succedful.

    5. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by Evro · · Score: 1
      --
      rooooar
    6. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by paiute · · Score: 1

      I AP'd Latin.

      --
      If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
    7. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      The song is corny.

    8. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your Feces is a Wonderland

      Let me be Alice.

    9. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by CMYKjunkie · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't it more appropriately be "Your Potty is a Wonderland"?

    10. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by xTantrum · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I love the way they extrapolated the data from identical twins to "everybody". When will scientists learn just how utterly mysterious the world around us is, and stop thinking they know everything. they don't know for sure what happens as we age, the potential difference between genders, variations as a result of diet etc..etc..etc... I think it was Einstein who said: "its a wonder individuals have any curiosity after university."

      --
      $action = empty(PHP) ? backToC() : unset(PHP) ; "when the concrete cases are understood, the abstractions are readily
    11. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by ozmanjusri · · Score: 1

      In the same way that "Windows" is plural? As well as being a Wonderland of Viruses, of course...

      --
      "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
    12. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by Ja'Achan · · Score: 1

      You want to go down the rabbit hole?

    13. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      I hate to break it to you, but scientists tend to know that better than anybody.

      Who the hell else would wonder if everybody has different types of viruses in their crap?

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    14. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by doti · · Score: 1

      Should be "your feci"

      --
      factor 966971: 966971
    15. Re:Your Feces is a Wonderland by Phoenixlol · · Score: 1

      It's actually, "It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." /pedant

  3. John Mayor Parody? by gblackwo · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is Weird Al back in town?

  4. Evolution by dward90 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    From my understanding of evolution, I think it would be more surprising if something we all have inside of us was doing something bad.

    --
    My other sig is clever.
    1. Re:Evolution by mrsteveman1 · · Score: 2, Funny

      We haven't yet evolved to be smart enough to eat real food, at least most of us haven't.

    2. Re:Evolution by Reilaos · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Well, it's not inside all of us, guessing by the article. It differs between all of us, and besides, people generally think of viruses as bad things. Bacteria, yes, but I can't really think of very useful viruses.

    3. Re:Evolution by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 4, Funny

      From my understanding of evolution, I think its surprising that we'd put the central waste facility right next to the playground and manufacturing plant.

    4. Re:Evolution by sznupi · · Score: 2, Informative

      So you haven't ever heard about parasites or, more generally, infections of all kind? Sure, it's a matter of finding a balance for bost host and "attackers" to survive, but it doesn't mean the latter "doing something bad inside of us" aren't present (of course together with those which are pretty much neutral (but good but taking resources from "bad") or outright "good")

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    5. Re:Evolution by sznupi · · Score: 2, Funny

      Considering they were, in the distant past, almost the same facility - that's not too surprising.

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    6. Re:Evolution by somersault · · Score: 1

      What about the man-modified viruses that can reprogram DNA to fix defects? :)

      --
      which is totally what she said
    7. Re:Evolution by dward90 · · Score: 1

      Parasites exist, but parasites aren't present in every individual of a host species.

      --
      My other sig is clever.
    8. Re:Evolution by spun · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I just read a Scientific American article discussing how plants selectively hold on to certain viruses that benefit them. A researcher inoculated tomato plants with mycorrhiza from plants found growing near very hot springs in Yellowstone. Viruses in the mycorrhiza infected the tomatoes, granting them the ability to grow in temperatures up to 140F. Best of all, the plants passed the beneficial viruses on to their offspring in the seed coating.

      --
      - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    9. Re:Evolution by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Isn't there one that makes crocuses (or maybe it's tulips) go all stripy?

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    10. Re:Evolution by Red+Flayer · · Score: 4, Funny

      From my understanding of evolution, I think its surprising that we'd put the central waste facility right next to the playground and manufacturing plant.

      Well, obviously, it's because the playground is so important that we need redundancy. Evolution has granted us a playground, and a backup playground right next to it.

      --
      "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
    11. Re:Evolution by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

      Vodka?

      --
      There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
    12. Re:Evolution by filesiteguy · · Score: 1

      ROTFL!

      You've been reading, "Fast Food Nation," haven't you?

      Good comment! Don't know why you were marked as a troll...

    13. Re:Evolution by berzerke · · Score: 1

      Yes, but it weakens the plant. From the plant's point of view, it is not beneficial.

    14. Re:Evolution by mrsteveman1 · · Score: 1

      Actually i've not read/seen that yet (its a movie too, right?)

    15. Re:Evolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They were? Please, go into more detail, or throw me a link or two

    16. Re:Evolution by martinX · · Score: 1

      There you go. Shove that up ya clacker!

      --
      When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
    17. Re:Evolution by martinX · · Score: 1

      I'm going to use that line. Thanks for that :-)

      --
      When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
    18. Re:Evolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks! *browses* Well that's, er, opened up a new, umm, orifice of knowledge for me to explore.

    19. Re:Evolution by sonamchauhan · · Score: 1

      From a basic understanding of creation,
      something that's in all of us must have
      originally been meant to benefit us

    20. Re:Evolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean the ones that will soon turn us into flesh eating zombies?

    21. Re:Evolution by mldi · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Actually, our rapid development into sterile societies has backfired because of how we're wired due to evolution. At least that's the theory. Our bodies were built to battle a few parasites, at least in our youth, and the theory is that because we are so sterile anymore, our bodies are looking for something to attack... and since in modern countries the majority of the population is parasite-free, they attack us instead. Behold: autoimmune diseases!

      It's actually probably pretty good for us to get at least a little down'n'dirty as kids so our bodies don't go crazy attacking perfectly normal things as unwanted foreign bodies.

      --
      If you aren't suspicious of your government's actions, you aren't doing your job as a responsible citizen.
    22. Re:Evolution by shermo · · Score: 1

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloaca#Cloacal_respiration

      Perhaps this is the origin of the phrase 'talking out your ass'

      --
      Insanity: voting in the same two parties over and over again and expecting different results
    23. Re:Evolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, we're carbon based life forms, and we have big carbon footprints; so obviously its bad that our innards can't digest silicon.

    24. Re:Evolution by Vintermann · · Score: 1

      Viruses that infect harmful bacteria. If bacteria can co-evolve to help us, why shouldn't viruses?

      --
      xkcd is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
    25. Re:Evolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So let me get this straight - there are now tomatoes that can be grown in such high temperatures?

    26. Re:Evolution by sznupi · · Score: 1

      Apart from cloaca, also things like:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deuterostome (yes, we start with anus and take everything from there ;) )
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernanimalcula (if that's even a fossil ;p But if it is, it's one of earliest examples possible)

      Generally being part of bodyplan in primitive chordates and earlier - at one point the bodies of our distant ancestors had roughly a form of tube after all, more or less. All those 3 functions (well, or 2; not much of an excretory system yet) were of "output" type (yes, also reproductive; fertilization was external after all), hence on the rear end; and it was carried over (not like it doesn't work now)

      Why did you have to ask / schools at your place ignored basics of it?

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    27. Re:Evolution by sznupi · · Score: 1

      Though for half of humanity that's not strictly a backup; more a case of diversity.

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    28. Re:Evolution by sznupi · · Score: 1

      But pracitcally all humans have parasites which are "doing something bad" (just generally kept in check); sure, flora/fauna might differ between two random humans, but we all have them - and some are quite common, one species of brain parasite in up to 1/3rd of humans, 80%, close to half probably, again 50%, 20%, and there's plenty more hovering around 10. Plus there seems to be a small core of bacterial gut flora virtually shared between all humans.

      TFA certainly wasn't talking about "just one species" of given parasite/etc.

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    29. Re:Evolution by DarkTygur · · Score: 1

      Wikipedia claims that mycorrhiza involves a fungus, not a virus.

      Now I want to read the article and make sure that's really talking about viruses...

    30. Re:Evolution by somersault · · Score: 1

      We already eat flesh (most of us). Being a zombie is underrated!

      --
      which is totally what she said
    31. Re:Evolution by spun · · Score: 1

      I think the virus lives in the fungus as well as the plant. It's actually a three way mutualistic relationship.

      --
      - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    32. Re:Evolution by spun · · Score: 1

      According to SciAm, there are now tomatoes that can grow at the internal temperature of a steak done medium.

      --
      - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    33. Re:Evolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bacteria, yes, but I can't really think of very useful viruses.

      I suspect most of these viruses are bacteriophage, which are very useful, but science is just beginning to study them, so it's not surprising that someone wouldn't know of a useful virus.

    34. Re:Evolution by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      The plant's point of view?

      How many divisions does the plant have?

      -- Erwin Rommel

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  5. Yes butt by xednieht · · Score: 1, Funny

    My viruses don't stink....

    --

    Hope is the currency of fools
    1. Re:Yes butt by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      Troll, for this?

      It might not be overly funny, but I'm guessing it was a play on the colloquialism/phrase, "My shit don't stink." The title includes 'butt' which adds a some double entendre as well. Not overly funny, but I don't even know if this could be a troll. Judging by the author's posts he's not someone who frequently posts troll or flamebait-styled posts either.

      I understand that one person's funny is another's not-so-humorous, but this isn't very deserving of a 'Troll' mod. If someone has some spare mod points at least correct this a bit. I'm not suggesting this deserves a +5 funny, but it surely doesn't rate lower than even.

    2. Re:Yes butt by iNaya · · Score: 1

      How on Earth is this a troll?

      --
      The Unicode standard is over 20 years old. Why does Slashdot not support it?
  6. Everything Comes Down To Poo by LoudMusic · · Score: 5, Funny

    One of the greatest episodes of any show ever.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRvk-CnXYhI

    --
    No sig for you. YOU GET NO SIG!
  7. FecesBook by donstenk · · Score: 3, Funny

    Why did I think the post was related to FaceBook?

    --
    Dennis Onstenk
  8. THIS EXPLAINS A LOT by mr_da3m0n · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    >Your Feces Is a Wonderland of Viruses

    This explains a lot about Windows ME.

    (Sorry, sorry. Remain seated, pleased.)

    1. Re:THIS EXPLAINS A LOT by mr_da3m0n · · Score: 1

      I expected to be modded into oblivion, but not as... flamebait? What? I mean the joke was terrible, of bad taste, and I wonder why I even posted it. But flamebait? Yes, of course I see now, people will all grab pitchforks and start arguing about how ME did /not/ suck and flamewars will ensue. Urgh.

  9. Yea, and? by BitZtream · · Score: 1, Informative

    Uhm, this is rather well known and well established. You have good AND 'bad' ones inside of you at any given time. Some are useful, even required as the body depends on them to get the job done, ESPECIALLY in the gut. Some can make you sick, some can even kill you.

    The 'germs' you have in you are heavily influenced by your environment as that is often the source of their replenishment. They mostly come from your environment so of course they are wildly different between people. Genetic twins are the same genetically, once you leave that the environment makes them unique and different as soon as the egg splits. Theres no such thing as 'identical twins' in the general, only the genetic.

    Doctors have been prescribing 'pro-botics' to make up for using anti-botics to kill bacteria for years so people can take heavy anti-biotics and still have a mostly functional balanced gut and vagina. Yes those are for bacteria, not viruses but its not because they haven't known about viruses.

    Of course, I wrote all this before I bothered to notice Timothy pushed the story to the front page. Just stop man, seriously, just freaking stop.

    --
    Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
    1. Re:Yea, and? by CyprusBlue113 · · Score: 0

      If you read the actual article, or even the summary, you might have noticed that they are discussing virii, not bacteria, and their interactivity and relative stability, not just "oh look they're there!"

      --
      a handful of selfish greedy people are no match for millions of selfish, greedy people -u4ya
    2. Re:Yea, and? by VTI9600 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Uhm, this is rather well known and well established.

      I thought it was well known and established that viruses are exclusively parasitic. Now it turns out that some bacteriophages are not only harmless to their hosts, but can actually assist bacteria by exchanging their genetic material, creating an accelerated evolutionary process which results in advantageous mutations to the ultimate benefit of the human host. I'm not sure if this is a new discovery, but it definitely goes against the conventional wisdom.

      I'll admit that the title could have been worded better, but still, you should RTFA before criticizing.

    3. Re:Yea, and? by msauve · · Score: 4, Informative

      No, they're discussing viruses and bacteria. Nowhere do they use the incorrect term "virii" in a failed attempt to look intelligent.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    4. Re:Yea, and? by CyprusBlue113 · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, that wasn't an attempt at looking intelligent, but a bad habit I picked up years ago as a less than white hat. I honestly didn't even see that I did that, good catch.

      --
      a handful of selfish greedy people are no match for millions of selfish, greedy people -u4ya
    5. Re:Yea, and? by Thud457 · · Score: 2, Funny

      The idea that a "fecal transplant" is a real thing revolts me.



      Kudos to sciencehabit for getting this fine piece of trollbait on the front page.

      --

      the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    6. Re:Yea, and? by geekoid · · Score: 1
      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    7. Re:Yea, and? by geekoid · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      I don't remember a spelling OR grammar test to be a black hat. I do remember all the people that new what they where doing laughing at posers using the term virii.

      "that wasn't an attempt at looking intelligent"
      that's for sure.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    8. Re:Yea, and? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't remember a spelling OR grammar test to be a black hat. I do remember all the people that new what they where doing laughing at posers using the term virii.

      I don't remember a spelling or grammar test to join Slashdot. I do remember laughing at all the idiots who couldn't spell "knew". Oh wait, no I don't, because picking on something as petty as that would show the world what an enormously fragile ego I had.

      "that wasn't an attempt at looking intelligent"
      that's for sure.

      Bravo fair troll, Oscar Wilde would be jealous of the amazing wit and insight you have displayed here this day.

  10. I wonder... by PotatoFarmer · · Score: 1

    I wonder if any of those viruses is a key "log"-ger. Better that than a worm, I guess.

    I'll show myself out...

    1. Re:I wonder... by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 3, Funny

      I'll show myself out...

      Please Doodoo.

    2. Re:I wonder... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Scat!!!

      Posting anon because I really don't to associate with this thread...

  11. So what we are anyway? by sznupi · · Score: 4, Funny

    It was already established, IIRC, how the number of bacterial cells in our bodies is greater than "human" ones; now this. "Human" genetic material (what this is all about in the end) seems to be in a minority inside us - though with such viruses it might be much less clear, perhaps they are a much more integral part of us; could pass RNA between cells, for example.

    So...I, for one, welcome our viral overlords. I welcome us.

    --
    One that hath name thou can not otter
    1. Re:So what we are anyway? by Luckyo · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Could you please source this one? I'm no biologist, but I'm fairly certain that most of the human mass, and cell count is still that of human. You may be referring to our gastrointestinal tract, where indeed the human cells are just the superstructure and enzyme-generating tissue and various absorbing surfaces, and much of the actual work breaking down the food is done by bacterial cells that are non-human. Elsewhere however, I just don't see that being possible, seeing just how aggressive our immune system is, and how carefully tuned many issues (such as nerve and bone for example) are.

      Some internal organs also utilize bacterial assistance for some chemical processes, but I find myself sceptical that they would form a majority of cells in human body.

    2. Re:So what we are anyway? by sznupi · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Mass != number of cells. Bacterial ones are typically quite a bit smaller.

      Yes, most in gut, but not all - if our immune system was so efficient as you paint it to be, there wouldn't be much infectious diseases to speak of (BTW, up to 1/3rd of world population has just one brain parasite)

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    3. Re:So what we are anyway? by vlm · · Score: 1

      Could you please source this one? I'm no biologist, but I'm fairly certain that most of the human mass, and cell count is still that of human.

      I'm not a biologist but I own a microscope and know how to use it.

      Mass, yes, we win. Count, possibly not. Very crude rule of thumb is prokaryote (bacteria and friends) cell diameter is "about" a tenth or less than that of eukaryotes (us, assuming you're not a sentient bacterium).

      In a typical microscope bacteria at like dots compared to animal cells. I'm sure some goof can reply with the worlds biggest bacteria cell and the worlds tiniest animal cell, just to make it clear I'm talking about 99% of the respective cell types not all that have ever been studied.

      A lot of the debate hinges on our digestive system, is a "donut hole" actually inside the donut itself? And then there's the goofs that may, or may not, define "our body" as including everything living on the surface of our skin. The royal "our" or royal "we"?

      --
      "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
    4. Re:So what we are anyway? by mdielmann · · Score: 4, Informative

      We comprise about 1% by weight of bacteria. Given the small size of bacteria cells, we have 10 times the bacterial cells to "human" cells. Here's where you can start reading.
      And then there's mitochondria, which look a lot more like foreign microbes within our own cells than just a structure built by our cell, complete with their own DNA.
      It is correct that much of those bacteria live in your gut, but apparently skin has its fair share, too. Nonetheless, those gut bacteria are also vital to the proper function of your body.

      --
      Sure I'm paranoid, but am I paranoid enough?
    5. Re:So what we are anyway? by sznupi · · Score: 1

      I'd say that skin ones (etc.; generally those which just sit there & take care of themselves, without giving anything obvious in return) are also vital - they compete for their niche with those who are not so benign, helping to keep the latter in check.

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    6. Re:So what we are anyway? by Luckyo · · Score: 0

      If you count mitochondria as an "alien organism", and viruses as "cells" then yes, we can get some crazy count as every cell in the human body has at least one mitochondria and often many viral agents. Cold fact is, mitochondria is not a separate organism - it was one many millions of years ago. Right now mitochondria is a cellular organ that exists in every single cell of ANY organism that uses oxygen-glucose burning as it's primary energy source - this includes bacteria. This includes vast majority of non-plant life forms on this planet.

      The proper biological term for mitochondria is "organelle", a cell organ. It is NOT a bacteria. In fact, bacteria typically have a mitochondria of their own.

      What I suspect is that article you sourced counts both bacteria AND viruses, both internal and those on our skin + counts mitochondria as a separate organism. Because that's the only way to get anywhere close to "10 times" figure I can think of.

      Essentially as far as I know (I've taken very good human and cellular biology courses in my high school under the teacher who taught molecular biology at the university back in 2000), main bacterial "payload" we have inside is in the intestinal tract. Bacteria on the skin can certainly be counted as well, but then one has to understand that those relate to many other things then human him/herself (i.e. climate). Most of the bacteria we have on the skin is essentially benign culture that feeds on various decomposition materials that come from dead skin flaking off without interacting with the skin or immune system in any harmful or beneficial way. It's largely inert as far as we are concerned, and just occupies the niche so that harmful bacteria doesn't occupy it instead (one of the main reasons why many doctors do not recommend antibacterial soap).

      As for viruses, they're an entirely different story. First of all, viruses aren't cell organisms. Bacteria in general are cellular organisms similar in size to many kinds of human cells, and can be smaller or larger. Viruses are small agents that are always MUCH smaller then cellular organisms, as their main role is not a full function of a cell, but parasitic or symbiotic relationship with another cellular organism or a cell which typically involves penetration of the cell. As a result you can have a LOT of viral organisms infesting a single cell. It is important to understand however that viruses DO NOT HAVE CELLS. This is what threw me off. You're referring to viruses and bacteria as "cells", and then say that there are ten times the alien cells inside us. Viruses are not cellular organisms, and of course there can be more viruses then cells in a human being - unlike bacteria which is actively controlled and purged on cellular level by our immune system, viruses infest cells themselves - often out of immune system's reach, and finally several of our own completely natural mechanisms rely on viruses as delivery agents.

      But once again - we may have a lot of bacteria inside us, but there's only a small fraction of cells inside us that aren't "us". On the other hand, non-cellular small agents such as viruses can be present in far larger quantities.

    7. Re:So what we are anyway? by sznupi · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Archamoebae, not at all archaic eukaryotes, don't have mitochondria.

      Anyway, not sure why you are hung up on mtichondria so much, it seems mostly as a 'BTW" of above poster - counting bacteria is apparently enough to arrive at higher numbers. Those which live "just" in our skin are very important, too - they compete with more "nasty" ones, keeping their numbers in check, as you mentioned...which means they DO (contrary to what you say just sentence before) interact in a beneficial way with skin or immune system

      Intestinal payload also differs between humans. So does "human" DNA. And "actively controlled and purged on cellular level by our immune system" is probably a bit too one-dimensional way of looking at them, considering you'd be dead fairly quickly if you were to lose your bacterial flora.

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    8. Re:So what we are anyway? by sharp3 · · Score: 1

      We comprise about 1% by weight of bacteria.

      Dibs on next trendy diet infomercial.

    9. Re:So what we are anyway? by Luckyo · · Score: 1

      Inert bacteria in fact to NOT interact. They simply occupy the space. That's the very definition of "inert".

      And as I noted, the biggest problem is that article seems to count viruses into the count on the same level as bacteria. Which is just ridiculous.

    10. Re:So what we are anyway? by sznupi · · Score: 2, Informative

      Ehhh...fine, then "inert" is cleary not appropriate, happy?

      And c'mon, very quick & easy search brings two sources of very nice, solid references (also journals)
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_flora
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_flora

      At least 10 times more cells, when counting only gut bacteria (10^14 vs. 10^13 human ones in the body); also, "It is estimated that these gut flora have around 100 times as many genes in aggregate as there are in the human genome."

      Do you have any more ridiculous problems?

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    11. Re:So what we are anyway? by Luckyo · · Score: 1

      Interesting. Thank you for the source, it gave me a couple of books to rent next time I visit university library.

    12. Re:So what we are anyway? by shermo · · Score: 1

      And then there's mitochondria, which look a lot more like foreign microbes within our own cells than just a structure built by our cell, complete with their own DNA.

      You know, George Lucas really ruined the whole series for me when he explained them.

      --
      Insanity: voting in the same two parties over and over again and expecting different results
    13. Re:So what we are anyway? by mdielmann · · Score: 1

      If all they do is keep more harmful bacteria from colonizing, they perform a valuable task, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do more than that, too.

      --
      Sure I'm paranoid, but am I paranoid enough?
    14. Re:So what we are anyway? by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      ...but I'm fairly certain that most of the human mass, and cell count is still that of human.

      Mass yes, cell count no. Bacteria are far smaller than human cells.

      It's like water - there are twice as many hydrogen atoms as there are oxygen atoms in water, but water is 3/4 oxygen by mass.

      The hydrogen is like the bacteria, and the oxygen is like the human cells., except the difference between human cells and bacteria is bigger.

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
  12. anlaysis ? by Mathinker · · Score: 5, Funny

    Geez, the Slashdot editors couldn't even spell "anal" when it was even on-topic.

    1. Re:anlaysis ? by Farmer+Tim · · Score: 1

      Severe goatse trauma, I imagine.

      --
      Blank until /. makes another boneheaded UI decision.
  13. For fans of Sam and Max by Improv · · Score: 1

    Imagine this being said in a Hugh Bliss voice.

    --
    For every problem, there is at least one solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.
  14. This is going too far by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think there are some limits to the show me in the "show me" state.

  15. bacterial - viral symbiosis by curious.corn · · Score: 1

    This thing about bacteria using viruses to transport and exchange genetic material makes me wonder if sexual reproduction could have evolved from here. Are there any theories about this...

    ???

    --
    Mi domando chi à il mandante di tutte le cazzate che faccio - Altan
    1. Re:bacterial - viral symbiosis by interactive_civilian · · Score: 1

      Sexual reproduction, in the way it exists with gametes and sexes, most likely owes nothing or at least very little to something like this. It seems like it might when one considers that the male gamete is basically a DNA package with a motor attached. However, it is more sensible for evolution of sex to have started with two possibly equal sized gametes, both providing DNA, nutrients, etc (basically everything that the egg now provides). A situation with such equality is unstable, however, so it would soon shift to one gamete becoming smaller and using less resources and the other gamete being larger and using more.

      Richard Dawkins covers this very well in his first book, "The Selfish Gene", which, incidentally is a must read for anyone who really wants to have a decent understanding of evolution. :)

      --
      "Empathise with stupidity, and you're halfway to thinking like an idiot." - Iain M. Banks
    2. Re:bacterial - viral symbiosis by sznupi · · Score: 1

      Quite unlikely.

      In addition to what the other poster said - if only because gametes don't show any similarities with viruses or their modus operandi, way of "reproduction." The latter means there's even no direct way for them to pass such traits to the host.

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
  16. Just be glad you're not an elephant by OrangeMonkey11 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Humans are born with all these bacteria built into the body and advances as we grew up; on the other hand young elephant have to eat their parents feces in order to gain these valuable bacteria to help them have an immune system and digest food.

    So aren't you glad you're not an elephant.

    1. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think human babies eat worse things then their mother's poo.

    2. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you not understand the difference between bacteria and viruses? This claims to be about viruses.

    3. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by sznupi · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Not strictly "born with all these built in" - remember that those who are born naturally have quite prolonged contact of their mouths with mother's vagina/etc., for starters. And IIRC those after caesarean section can show some "irregularities" in bacterial flora.

      I even have an impression that dietary preferences might change in some real way, not just by habit & accustomization, after regular close contact with people from slightly different areas...

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    4. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by PCM2 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually, humans spend the nine months in utero in a completely bacteria-free environment. However, babies born vaginally pick up their first dose of bacteria immediately as they emerge from their mother's birth canal, and even babies born via Caeserian section are bacteria magnets. The natural birth babies generally get a big dose of lactobacillus, while C-section babies tend to pick up strains found on the skin and the general hospital environment. Or so they say. But the bacteria are hardly "built into the body," which is why identical twins will have different gut flora.

      Still, you may notice that TFA is about viruses, not bacteria.

      --
      Breakfast served all day!
    5. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      I am an ICU nurse and was shocked the first time the doctor ordered a "fecal transplant." This is for someone who has been on so many antibiotics that they have depleted the bacteria in their gut. Feces is collected from family members, processed, and "transplanted" to the patient via a feeding tube. It is not common or palatable but effective.

    6. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by Grizzley9 · · Score: 1

      Citation Please.

      Really I'd like to see it as I know adult elephants (and likely babies) do that when there are nutritional shortages in the food sources (or are just really curious), just have never seen or heard of baby elephants doing it for digestion development reasons.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2y_LEbdEVE

    7. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Humans are born with all these bacteria built into the body and advances as we grew up; on the other hand young elephant have to eat their parents feces in order to gain these valuable bacteria to help them have an immune system and digest food.

      So aren't you glad you're not an elephant.

      As a microbiologist in studying the gut microbiota, I can tell you that this is 100% wrong, no-one is born with bacteria built into them, in fact gnotobiotic animals, ones completely free of all bacteria and viruses are (somewhat easily) made by C-section in a sterile environment for the purposes of gut and nutrition research all the time. These animals are difficult to maintain, however, because they essentially must live like the "boy in the bubble" all their food and water, as well as all the tools used for their examination must be sterilized ( food is typically irradiated up to 5 times to make sure all the stuff in it is dead) to keep them from being contaminated, and facilities that maintain these animals must be built specifically for this task - which is not exactly cheap. *** As an aside, please keep in mind that even ignoring the subject of virii transferring DNA within the bacterial soup, some scientists estimate that to date we have sequenced and discovered less than 1% of all the bacterial species in the human gut even with massive throughput technologies like pyrosequencing. *** Also keep in mind that at the moment, we (scientists) still have not come to a consensus about what a unique bacterial (or viral, if they are even alive) species is! In other words, while nicely defined terms work for the rest of the living stuff on this planet, ( if you can produce viable offspring with another organism, then you are the same species) this does not apply to bacteria or viruses because they reproduce asexually. All we have to go on as far as classification is the DNA sequences of all these microorganisms, and how similar those sequences are to others - so where does one draw the line and say "this is a new species" ? At >3% difference? at >1% , or something else? People can't agree on this because what ends up happening is you end up finding two bacteria that are 99% identical but behave completely differently, while another pair of two supposedly different species are functionally/metabolically indistinguishable. *** Oh and to shed some light on the deal with identical twins: basically everyone is right, diet, location, lifestyle (smoking/ drinking vs. not, working in a sewer, etc.) AND host genetics all play important roles in what bacteria end up permanently colonizing a persons intestine. To elaborate, two identical twins separated at birth, eating different things will still be more similar to each other than would a pair of two complete strangers. If these twins lived in the same house and had similar diets, they would be even MORE similar than if they were separated, but never identical. At the same time, a pair of complete strangers living in the same house and eating the same things would be more similar than if they lived separately and had different diets. **** Fun fact: twins also have different fingerprints

    8. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by priegog · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yeah, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but as a couple of people already pointed out, we actually do get our colonic flora from our mothers' (most of the time) poo (or perineal region, which is essentially the same thing). Of course all throughout our lives it gets modified by our own immune system makeup, eating habits, antibiotic use, etc... But the bacteria that protect us on those first few days/weeks/months come DIRECTLY out of our moms' butts.

    9. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Note from the article you referred to:

      Some work suggests colonization may begin even earlier. While the paradigm has been that babies are sterile until birth, Neu’s recent work found a microbial community already dwelling in the first poop of some babies born prematurely. While a baby is in the uterus, it typically swallows 400 to 500 milliliters of amniotic fluid per day, which may harbor some of the mother’s microbes, Neu speculates.

    10. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by Crudely_Indecent · · Score: 1

      I hope the doctor has the courtesy to provide an after-dinner mint.

      Excuse me, there's a peanut stuck in my straw - er, feeding tube.

      --


      "Lame" - Galaxar
    11. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by instagib · · Score: 3, Informative

      I couldn't believe this, but it's true. Mod parent up more.

    12. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by Rude+Turnip · · Score: 1

      That and your mom basically takes a dump on you while you're being born. Joseph Campbell was right when he said being born is a heroic act.
       

    13. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by sharp3 · · Score: 1

      You've turned this perfectly good discussion about poop into an academic discussion. What has the Slashdot become?

    14. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by martinX · · Score: 1

      While a baby is in the uterus, it typically swallows 400 to 500 milliliters of amniotic fluid per day, which may harbor some of the mother’s microbes, Neu speculates.

      Easy enough to test - sample amniotic fluid and culture it.

      I'd be surprised if any microorganisms were present, though. AF is such a great growth medium, anything in there would quickly take over.

      --
      When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
    15. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This reminded me of a Tosh.0 episode

      apparently it isnt just the youngsters

      clip

    16. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought elephant shit is what was in peanut butter.

    17. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by sznupi · · Score: 1

      However unlikely the presence would be - culturing AF to check wouldn't have to give a clear answer, many / most microorganisms simply can't be cultured (that certainly includes most of gut flora)

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    18. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Eat shit and live.

    19. Re:Just be glad you're not an elephant by Pollardito · · Score: 1

      New York Times had an interesting writeup on a fecal transplant case just the other day, so it's funny that this comes up in conversation now. NPR had an interesting story about how bacteria affect the efficiency of digestion a while back too. It's amazing what we don't know about our bodies, and a little bit scary how willing we are to wade into that unknown and just start changing things

  17. But I thought girls didn't poop by stevegee58 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now my illusion is shattered. *sniff*

    1. Re:But I thought girls didn't poop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now my illusion is shattered. *sniff*

      Get into live-in relationship with one. Then you'll discover that not only do they poop, they often poop on you (figuratively speaking, of course).

    2. Re:But I thought girls didn't poop by inKubus · · Score: 1

      Here's what I saw when I read your post:

      "But I thought girls didn't poop. Now my illusion is shattered."

      Stevegee58 grasped the shiny brown log in his fist and the slowly raised it under his nose.

      *sniff*

      --
      Cool! Amazing Toys.
    3. Re:But I thought girls didn't poop by mrsurb · · Score: 1

      A firm, shapely, feminine butt is a beautiful thing... until you remember what it does.

    4. Re:But I thought girls didn't poop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's not nearly as unsexy as the shit that comes out of her mouth.

    5. Re:But I thought girls didn't poop by scream+at+the+sky · · Score: 1

      My ex openly admitted that she pooped. What she was trying to convince us all, was that it smelled like roses....

      roses growing on a compost pile, maybe, but roses none the less.

      --
      I wish I was a neutron bomb, for once I could go off...
    6. Re:But I thought girls didn't poop by SleazyRidr · · Score: 1

      Sometimes they'll do it literally as well, but that's a special kind of relationship.

  18. Lack of control groups in study by Tisha_AH · · Score: 3, Informative

    The article mentions the identical twins but it does not indicate if they are adult, identical twins living in different places, with different environmental conditions. If you took two 25 year old identical twins and raised one in Florida and the other in Seattle for five years you would definitely find different flora in the gut.

    Now if these identical twins were still children, raised in the same environment, then that would indeed be interesting.

    --
    Tisha Hayes
    1. Re:Lack of control groups in study by vlm · · Score: 1

      Now if these identical twins were still children, raised in the same environment, then that would indeed be interesting.

      Yeah that would be interesting, like winning the lotto unlikely interesting. My wife and I eat McDonalds breakfast, same stuff. One of us spends the next 12 hours on the can due to salmonella. Repeat for a lifetime of experiences at Taco Bell, street vendors, etc.

      That's before considering we both dig up the garden but only one of us gets an infected scratch.

      And we never seem to catch cold/flu whatever at the same exact time. One catches it from the other, but never in the same order.

      --
      "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
  19. No shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sherlock!

  20. Best compliment ever? by charlesbakerharris · · Score: 1

    I mean seriously, I'm blushing after hearing this good (and, I should note, widely-publicized) review of my feces.

  21. Wow by Khyber · · Score: 1

    Just a couple days ago I read about people getting FECAL TRANSPLANTS to cure intestinal problems, now this.

    Looks like the solutions to many of life's problems lies in the asshole.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    1. Re:Wow by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 1

      people getting FECAL TRANSPLANTS...

      Two girl's one cup?

  22. CSI by Itninja · · Score: 1

    I think this will drastically change the dialog in future episodes of CSI.

    "You can suck it CSI guy! You can't prove nothin'"
    "Mr. Jones, there's no need to deny being at the crime scene. Your poop was all over the murder weapon"

    --
    I judt got a nre Kinesis keybiartf so please excusr ant egregiou typos.
  23. Obviously a bogus test... by fuo · · Score: 3, Funny

    fecal samples from four sets of Missouri-born female identical twins and their mothers

    Impossible. It's common knowledge that girls don't pewp.

  24. Fabio C(r)appello by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Faeces something.

    Liverpool paper. One of the great spelling mistakes.

  25. That's why you don't eat poo by AthleteMusicianNerd · · Score: 1

    geeeeeeeeeeeesssssshhhhhhhhhhhhh!

    1. Re:That's why you don't eat poo by stimpleton · · Score: 1

      No?

      Best not watch this you tube video then.

      --

      In post Patriot Act America, the library books scan you.
  26. nt by shentino · · Score: 1

    No SHIT sherlock...

    1. Re:nt by pushing-robot · · Score: 1

      I must admit that at first this seemed incredibly obvious, so I thought "no shit!"

      But then I started reading TFA and found it was really quite surprising. So now I'm thinking "no shit?"

      I have to credit Dr. Gordon for researching the shit out of what seems on its face a shitty subject. He's really the shit in my book.

      (And now I must apologize to the non-native English speakers.)

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
  27. Can you imagine by SnarfQuest · · Score: 5, Funny

    What fun the children of these scientists must have.

    What does your daddy do? He plays with shit.

    What did you do on your "take your son to work" day? We got people to poop for us.

    What did you bring for show and tell? Here's some poop in the shape of Obama.

    --
    Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
    1. Re:Can you imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      These scientists are the modern equivalent of the honored, ancient profession of the poopsmith.

  28. We ARE elephants by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Some would say the lack of eating shit, dirt, and living with animals has unbalanced our immune systems and lead to an increase of food and other allergies and increases in autoimmune diseases. So perhaps, we should be more like elephants.

  29. Researchers by kpainter · · Score: 3, Funny

    Man, talk about a shit job! Also, why is it particularly relevant that the subjects were born in Missouri? Just to make Mississippi jealous?

    1. Re:Researchers by NevarMore · · Score: 1

      Test subjects familiar with the use of indoor plumbing makes it easier to get samples.

    2. Re:Researchers by Xadnem · · Score: 1

      Well, Missouri does proclaim itself the Show-Me state. . .

    3. Re:Researchers by kpainter · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but Mississippi has more 'pp' in it than Missouri.

    4. Re:Researchers by JustABlitheringIdiot · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but Mississippi has more 'pp' in it than Missouri.

      Given that they get drinking water from the Mississippi River and that water has passed through the guts of numerous people from Minneapolis and St. Louis and so on. So yeah that's pretty fair to say they have more Pee Pee in them.

  30. Oblig by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What a crappy comment.

    1. Re:Oblig by sentientbeing · · Score: 1

      No shit.

      --

      ------
      beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his mind he dreams himself your master
    2. Re:Oblig by LoudMusic · · Score: 1

      I guess it was a bit poopy.

      --
      No sig for you. YOU GET NO SIG!
  31. Ob by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    My feces am plural, you insensitive clod!

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  32. by count 90% bacteria and 98% viruses by peter303 · · Score: 1

    By volume about 7% bacteria and 0.5% viruses.

  33. Shit! by w0mprat · · Score: 1

    I for one, welcome our microbial overlords. We are walking colonies of our single celled ancestors. Nothing new, but most people don't realize there are ten times more cells living in your gut than there are in the rest of your body (due to bacteria being much smaller than many cells in our bodies, in particular fat cells are enormous). A sobering reminder of who really rules the planet.

    I can't think how much new research keeps popping up about the role gut flora plays in health and disease. But one has to wonder, what level of control our little friends really have over us?

    --
    After logging in slashdot still does not take you back to the page you were on. It's been that way for 20 years.
    1. Re:Shit! by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 1

      Nothing new, but most people don't realize there are ten times more cells living in your gut than there are in the rest of your body (due to bacteria being much smaller than many cells in our bodies, in particular fat cells are enormous). A sobering reminder of who really rules the planet.

      Fat cells? They can beat up all the other cells.

      I can't think how much new research keeps popping up about the role gut flora plays in health and disease. But one has to wonder, what level of control our little friends really have over us?

      Given what some of those brain parasites can do to behavior, I'm not sure I'd want to know.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
  34. Grammar in the headline? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "You're Feces Is a Wonderland of Viruses"

    "You're Feces are a Wonderland of Viruses"

    Do the editors even care about grammar?

  35. Reminds me of the Phantom Menance movie by peter303 · · Score: 1

    According to Nick Lane's mitochondria book there are 20 times more mitochondria than human cells in order bodies. And they supply 90% of our metabolic energy. Multicellular animals could not move without them. I instantly though of Star War's mediclodrians mediating The Force.

  36. sigh... by Godskitchen · · Score: 1

    Why is this news?

    1. Re:sigh... by instagib · · Score: 1

      I think it's fascinating, and at the same time unsettling: We are only just starting to explore the inner workings of ourselves of all which is invisible to the naked eye. The interlocked control systems of digestion, metabolism, immune system and hormones are far from understood. In fact, we don't know shit.

    2. Re:sigh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why is this news?

      Perhaps you need to start your own "news" blog, and censor it as you prefer?

  37. Bad late news. by topcoder · · Score: 1

    This news arrives too late for two semi-famous uninformed girls ;).

  38. These viruses may be doing good work inside of us. by countertrolling · · Score: 1

    Will they make me super intelligent?

    --
    For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
  39. Holly Shit! by roman_mir · · Score: 1

    Women shit?

    then again

    what are women?

    1. Re:Holly Shit! by CityZen · · Score: 1

      All your questions, plus many that you didn't even want to ask, can be answered by watching YouTube.

      Of course, having all the answers won't necessarily give you any enlightenment.

  40. Best... by N0Man74 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Best Pickup Line... Ever!

  41. Now, I feel like going to the bathroom/restroom! by antdude · · Score: 1

    Thanks a lot, /.! :P

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  42. Acidophilis by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 1

    Twice in my life, something besides antibiotics has killed my gut bacteria.

    The first time it took me 8 weeks to realize. Basically felt terrible, real trouble digesting food, etc. etc.
    Finally bought acidopholis pills from whole foods (yellow bottle, purple bottle: about $20).
    One of the pills (2 billion germs) each and I was cured the next morning.

    Next time took about 2 weeks to figure out- had the same result.

    Antibiotics do this too and if no good stuff is present, bad stuff will move in.

    Over time, you develop things to digest particular food (re article on japanese ability to digest seaweed).

    It's also important to eat dirt and other things as a child but thats a different matter- it can prevent you from getting an inflamed stomach because we are wired to need a certain parasitic infection (some of us anyway) at least once in our lives.

    --
    She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
  43. 2 girls... by binaryseraph · · Score: 1

    I *KNEW* 2 girls 1 cup was more than a smut film gone bad. Instead it is a story about two girls sharing good viruses with each other. That is so touching.

  44. Vampires... err... Virals by proc_tarry · · Score: 1

    Maybe one of these viruses will make us live forever. And grow huge teeth!

    I am Babcock.

  45. Thought So by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My shit is the shit!

  46. At the beginning by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I thought it was a new social wedsite

  47. Re:CmdrTaco's micropenis is a wonderland too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow, talk about intimate knowledge.

  48. That's just shit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's just shit.

  49. Re:CmdrTaco's micropenis is a wonderland too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, we frequent the same glory hole. I've fucked him a few times, too.

  50. No fucking shit! by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 1

    I mean,really :)

  51. Re:CmdrTaco's micropenis is a wonderland too by __aatirs3925 · · Score: 0

    It's not only intimate but it seems that people here prefer articles about feces over technology news. The amount of comments here is astounding. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go improve my immune system lol jk

  52. Unique wording by Basement_Cat · · Score: 1

    This is the first time I have ever seen the words "wonderland" and "feces" used in the same sentence.

    1. Re:Unique wording by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

      You mean other than in a review of the new "Alice in Wonderland" movie, right?

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  53. Re:Grammar in the comment? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes I'm sure "you are feces" ;^)

  54. re: Your Feces Is a Wonderland of Viruses by mysidia · · Score: 1

    And your vomit is even worse.

    Thank you captain obvious. :-)

  55. "I should very much like to see your excrement." by CityZen · · Score: 1

    Dr. Stephen Maturin was simply ahead of his time!
    ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Maturin )

  56. Whole new Biometric Identifier by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This can be used as an interesting way to identify people by tapping their sewer lines.

  57. Bareback -kefir. by jago25_98 · · Score: 1

    I'll ponder this next time I'm bareback.

    Pass the Kefir.

  58. HGT and Bacteriophages by interactive_civilian · · Score: 2, Informative

    Well, it's not inside all of us, guessing by the article. It differs between all of us, and besides, people generally think of viruses as bad things. Bacteria, yes, but I can't really think of very useful viruses.

    Bacteriophages can transfer new traits to bacteria, across species (and even across domains) and is a very important means of horizontal gene transfer. Sure, this may not be "useful" to us, who so often have to combat these new traits such as the various antibiotic resistances that arise, but it is certainly useful to the bacteria. Even in the article, they suggested that the helpfulness of these gut viruses is to the bacteria rather than directly to the human.

    For people who study microbiology and especially microbiological evolution (for the record, I am not; I'm just an interested bystander), the idea of symbiotic viruses is not surprising.

    --
    "Empathise with stupidity, and you're halfway to thinking like an idiot." - Iain M. Banks
  59. Viruses on feces? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No shit...

  60. No by wirehead_rick · · Score: 1

    sh1t?

    --
    -- Mean People Suck
  61. Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Things must be a little slow at /. these days. Or maybe the usual staff of nutjobs is on vacation.

  62. Two Girls, One Cup by Lord_of_the_nerf · · Score: 1

    In recognition of this, I've renamed the file to Shared_Wonderland.mpg

  63. Your face? by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    Maybe it's the beer but I initially read the headline as "Your Face Is a Wonderland of Viruses..."

  64. Midichlorians by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes... midichlorians are found in your poop! May the feces be with you!

  65. I'll use my hands by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...me too.

  66. Wondering How? by koje89 · · Score: 1

    I am just always wondering how it happen? I mean there is no one person in this world that have the same face with others. I think that is just awesome :)

  67. Wondering How? by koje89 · · Score: 1

    I am just always wondering how it happen? I mean there is no one person in this world that have the same face with others. I think that is just awesome :)

  68. Yogurt and the midichlorians by BadAndyJ · · Score: 1

    Antibiotics kill bacteria... Pro-biotics (like in yougurt) contain bacteria... If we've found GOOD bacteria, surely there are other organisms within us that do us good too. Now, where is my pro-midichlorian pill?

  69. Hmmmm. I have seen this observation before by bdwoolman · · Score: 1

    It has been proposed as the main argument against intelligent design.

    Would a truly intelligent designer route the main waste disposal channel right through the recreational area?

    --
    "No fear. No envy. No meanness." Liam Clancy
    1. Re:Hmmmm. I have seen this observation before by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      It has been proposed as the main argument against intelligent design.

      Wait, seriously? That is supposed to be the main argument against ID?

      An easy ID response would be it's like re-using code - the systems are similar, why not put one inside the other?

      There are really a lot better arguments against ID than that, and the fact that evolution chose it for every single animal on the planet speaks against it being a bad design. If it didn't work extremely well, we wouldn't see it at all, let alone in every single animal. In evolution, all processes go through a trial by fire as they are being developed - if anything doesn't work at any given stage of development the whole system is scrapped.

      Really, if it's such a bad design it's a better argument against evolution than ID - after all, God can have a sense of humor, evolution can't.

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
  70. Sceientist have finally watched ... by sourcerror · · Score: 1

    2 girls 1 cup.

  71. Re:Mod me on-topic! by FreonTrip · · Score: 1

    Was this an alt.tasteless post originally?

  72. a new direction for biometrics? by CosaNostra+Pizza+Inc · · Score: 1

    Forget about iris, retinal or fingerprint scans. Please deposit stool sample on the scanning pad. Kind'a gross.

  73. Re:CmdrTaco's micropenis is a wonderland too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My shit smells like roses you insensitive clod!

  74. Help for the CSI's by JElder · · Score: 1

    Think of the possibilities for criminology! An errant fart while committing a crime leaves microscopic poo particles floating about the crime scene. One micro-bacterial analysis later, compare to your database of samples, and you have your man! (And it would be a man. We all know ladies don't ever break wind, even when committing the most heinous of crimes.)

  75. Dude..It was meant as a joke by bdwoolman · · Score: 1

    And it is not even my joke. I have seen it before. But perhaps "main argument against" was too strong. However, in humor that is known as hyperbole.

    And I certainly agree with you. There are many better arguments against intelligent design than the one I jokingly put forward.

    But your point is well taken. Evolution probably so universally associates the organs of sex and elimination because sex pheromones and territorial markers are often spread by the latter process (for efficiency's sake?). It therefore makes sense for the sex organ to be at ground zero for the chemical marker.

    --
    "No fear. No envy. No meanness." Liam Clancy
  76. Hmmmm by nu1x · · Score: 1

    I will now have better appreciation for scat fetishists...

    Those people are doing good for one another ! :)

    --
    I have nothing to lose but my bindings.