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Hi Martin et al,
Interestingly,  human breast milk has a number of indigestible oligosaccharides that essentially (and perhaps exclusively) promote selective bacterial growth.  It's thought that these compounds represent the co-evolution of human and their microflora.  Florence  Williams covers it in her recent book, Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393063186/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0761121129&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0GEXJ9QDDNCHMJK44GH5

It's a fascinating but not surprising hypothesis.
C
> 
>   - Bacterial cells in the body outnumber human cells by a factor of 10 to
>   1. Yet only recently have researchers begun to elucidate the beneficial
>   roles these microbes play in fostering health.
>   - Some of these bacteria possess genes that encode for beneficial
>   compounds that the body cannot make on its own. Other bacteria seem to
>   train the body not to overreact to outside threats.
>   - Advances in computing and gene sequencing are allowing investigators
>   to create a detailed catalogue of all the bacterial genes that make up this
>   so-called microbiome.
>   - Unfortunately, the inadvertent destruction of beneficial microbes by
>   the use of antibiotics, among other things,  may be leading to an increase
>   in autoimmune diseases.
> 
> Microbial organisms are said to be the most influential organisms on Earth (land and oceans) and research is suggesting they maybe in our bodies as well.
> 
> http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=ultimate-social-network-bacteria-protects-health&WT.mc_id=SA_WR_20120523
> 
> Martin
> 
> --
> -----------------------------------------
> Martin Weiss, PhD
> Senior Scientist
> New York Hall of Science
> mweiss at nyscience.org
> cell   347-460-1858
> desk 718 595 9156
> 
> --
> C

Charles Carlson
Senior Scientist
exploratorium

http://blogs.exploratorium.edu/whyintercept/

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