by Diego Marroquin — It is springtime, the weather is warming up, the snow is melting, and you are getting ready to plant various vegetables and beautiful flowers in your garden. Peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, lettuce, kale, and many other vegetables are commonly grown and are among the most loved vegetables that many of us grow Read More…
Author: pmoisander
Why You Want Probiotics in Your System
by Natasha Mufti — Probiotics were defined by the Food and Agriculture Association and the World Health Organization as live organisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host1. We can think of administering probiotics in the gut like giving water to a plant; in order for the plant to Read More…
Cetacean populations are on the decline, and drones could be one solution to the problem
by Audrey MacLellan — Cetaceans – you might know them as whales and dolphins, might have seen them on television or on a whale watching trip gracefully swimming through the ocean, feeding with their massive mouths on schools of tiny fish, or jumping playfully out of the water only to make huge splashes as they Read More…
What are the sources of skin bacteria?
by Deedra Osafo — Bacteria are microscopic organisms present on the surface of the skin. When bacteria enter the skin through hair follicles or scrapes, they can grow on the skin. Bacteria commonly found on the skin include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, Corynebacterium and Proteobacteria. Skin bacteria can be contracted through contact with animals, hygiene products, Read More…
Born at Womb Temperature – How Mode of Delivery Can Affect the Infant Gut Microbiome
by Olivia Arena — When we think of bacteria, we often think of the type that will leave us calling out sick on a Monday morning, reaching for the tissue box, or grabbing for the cold medicine off the bathroom shelf. However, not all bacteria present themselves in a harmful manner but are there to Read More…
Fishes: To eat or not to eat?
by Sage Bauman — Usually if the topic of fish comes up in a casual conversation it consists of “would you like the swordfish or haddock for dinner?” or maybe you see a clownfish in an aquarium and are reminded of the classic animation “Finding Nemo”. While these are entertaining or necessary topic to discuss, Read More…
Struggling with Weight Loss? Your Gut Microbiome May Be to Blame
by Brandon Jensen — The prevalence of obesity in the United States has increased rapidly over the past several decades. Today, around 40% of adults in the US are considered obese. Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and certain cancers. It also comes with a significant financial cost – treatment of disease Read More…
Your Shih Tzu is Not a Wolf, So Why are You Feeding Him Like One?
by Emily Malinowski — There are countless dog food brands and numerous food types available for our pets, so how do we know which one is best to choose? Many dog food brands are now advertising “grain free” kibble. They’re claiming this kibble is perfect for your “wolf descendent,” with a composition high in Read More…
How Poor Dental Health Might Lead to Alzheimer’s Disease
by Ben Bowman — Dental hygiene is a critical part of our daily bodily cleaning regimen. Society reminds us to brush our teeth every day, twice per day. And dentists remind us every six months that we aren’t flossing enough. But there may be an even more persuasive, and far more grave reason to break Read More…
Human and Animal Microbiomes in Health and Disease
This site is a collection of blog posts produced by Biology undergraduate seniors during the students’ capstone study projects in Fall 2021. More posts will continue to appear through the first part of December 2021. — UMD campus community: Please come meet the students and discuss their projects at our poster session on Monday 12/6, 2:30-4:30 pm Read More…