Definition
The community of microorganisms living on and in an individual.
Use in clinical context
There are trillions of microorganisms that live on and in humans. Many of these are beneficial or neutral, while some can cause problems.
The species of microorganisms that make up the microbiota can be studied by sequencing the microbiome. This can reveal changes to the microbiota that may be impacting on health. For example, the gut microbiota has been associated with conditions affecting many different areas – from the gut itself to the brain.
Related terms
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) | Genetics | Microbiome | Micro-organisms
