Genetic variation occurs between human populations living in different places, but little was known about variation in microbiomes. To investigate how gut microbiomes differ among human populations, Yatsunenko et al. characterized bacterial species in faecal samples from cohorts living in different regions, including the Amazonas of Venezuela, rural Malawi and US metropolitan areas. The authors found pronounced differences in the composition and functions in the gut microbiomes between these geographically distinct cohorts.
- MILESTONES