Essay
Book review Missing Microbes PhiA 2.5 Sapere Aude
- Module
- Institution
- Book
Book review missing microbes for PhiA 2.5. Amazing book!
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
More summaries for
-
PhiA Sapere Aude GZW2225 - Missing Microbes
Seller
Followcarmenbruisten
Content preview
Is the overuse of antibiotics changing our microbiomecomposition for the worse? A book review on Missing
Microbes
Name: Carmen Bruisten
Student number: I6208148
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
Philosophy In Action 2.5 – Sapere Aude
GZW2225
Date: 12-04-2021
Tutor: A. Kamenshchikova
Word count: 1699
, A brief outline of the core argument of the book and its audience
Back in the days there were a lot of different diseases that could not be cured at that time,
until Alexander Flemming discovered Penicillin. The discovery of Penicillin led to the
production of antibiotics. In the book Missing Microbes: How the overuse of antibiotics is
fueling our modern plagues written by dr. Martin Blaser he discussed the effects antibiotics
can have on our microbiome composition. When antibiotics were first discovered they were
described as medication that could do no harm, Blaser challenges this description. Doctors are
generous with giving antibiotics to prevent as many illnesses as they can, but they are mostly
unaware of the long term effects it could have. Since the antibiotic era has started there has
been an increasing amount of what Blaser calls ‘modern plagues’ that were rare in the pre-
antibiotic era, which led Blaser to believe that antibiotics could be the reason for this. He
suggests that antibiotics kill the bacteria that need to be deserted, but they perhaps kill the
good ones as well.
Blaser has been studying the microbiome for a long time now. He believes antibiotics
are the reason for multiple diseases that are evolving. He tested his hypothesis concerning
obesity, he suggests obesity is a result of the overuse of antibiotics. He discovered that when
mice were given antibiotics early in life, the mice had more fat than the mice that weren’t
given any antibiotics. This study discovered that also in humans when children are exposed to
antibiotics during the first six months of their life, they had greater chances of getting fat. He
conducted more research and even challenges the fact that the early life exposure to
antibiotics could lead to multiple diseases like: allergies, diabetes, heartburn and even
diseases like autism.
Not only the use of antibiotics determines the microbiome composition early in life.
Back in the days the Cesarian section rates were way lower than they are nowadays. More
woman choose to deliver their babies via a C-section for multiple reasons. What these woman
probably don’t realize is that when giving birth, a mothers microbiome composition is also
transferred onto their child. Besides that, also many animal products contain lots of
antibiotics, because farmers use them to grow their animals and therefore make more money.
Both being born via a caesarian section as well as being exposed to products containing
antibiotics can result in a different microbiome composition.
Blaser uses his book to raise awareness that antibiotics are what causes the increasing
rates in plagues nowadays. Not only doctors, but also the general population can learn from
this book which can result in more careful consideration with the use of antibiotics. Blaser
used the example of a woman who went to the dentist to get treatment for a bacterial
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller carmenbruisten. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £4.68. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
85443 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now