Darwin’s Magnificient Mystery and the Microbiome
顿补谤飞颈苍鈥檚听翱苍听迟丑别听Origin of Species听put forth a听seminal and听revolutionary thesis for the life sciences听in 1859:听Populations with a common ancestor evolve over time with enough change to become different species that no longer successfully interbreed.听This process of descent with modification continues over time to produce lineages of new species. Darwin听famously referred to the process of one species becoming two as 鈥渢he mystery of mysteries.鈥澨听听
More than听160 years later,听the life sciences are experiencing a second revolution听based on听the听newly appreciated knowledge that听all听plant and animal species听are stable or temporary hosts to a听microbiome听living in or on听the听body.听听
An听essay听and literature review鈥痜irst authored by听听and听biological sciences undergraduate听Asia Miller听and co-authored by听, Centennial Chair in Biological Sciences, professor of biological sciences and director of the听,听听imagines听how听some听chapters in 顿补谤飞颈苍鈥檚听Origin of Species听would look听with our current understanding of the host-associated听microbiome.听