Humans are a super-organism

Humans as a super-organism, is a shift in how we think about what it means to be human.  A concept in holism, the idea that the total effectiveness of a group of things each interacting with one another is different and/or greater than their effectiveness when acting in isolation from one other.  This extraordinary partnership further amplifies our uniqueness. We are no longer a autonomous entity, and the concept of 'individuality' is complex.    

The cost of DNA testing has come down considerably over the last few years, affording us the opportunity to explore the genetic uniqueness of our human cells.  This uniqueness extends beyond the genes that comprise us, but also encompasses the genes of the bacteria that reside within and on us.  It had been postulated that humans should be viewed as walking super-organisms; a complex conglomeration of human cells, bacteria, fungi and viruses.  It is precisely this interaction among our specific biology, bacteria, fungi and viruses that influences our health. 

Our microbiome dictate more about our bodies and our live than we may like to admit - they digest our food, control our metabolism, modulate our immune system, influence our mental health and have a role in gene expression. Thus giving credence to the quote attributed to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates nearly 2500 years ago, "All disease begins in the gut".  

Human evolution is slow, but the human microbiome can change more quickly.  This rapid change in microbiome is precisely what allows humans to adapt and thrive to new environments and foods.  This mutualism offers humans an evolutionary advantage.