Poop Transplants!
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This ecology experiment is one of many that have demonstrated how ecosystems with many species tend to be more resilient than those with few species. We're biased towards this particular grassland experiment because it's run by one of our writers, but strength in numbers - species numbers! - is also key to the health of ecosystems ranging from potato fields to rivers to the inside of your gut. In contrast, when a single species is dominant, it can cause problems. Take the case of Clostridium difficile, a natural part of your gut community that causes a severe inflammation of the colon when it becomes too abundant. This bacteria, often referred to as "C diff", was named "difficile" because it was difficult to grow in a lab - not be...
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This ecology experiment is one of many that have demonstrated how ecosystems with many species tend to be more resilient than those with few species. We're biased towards this particular grassland experiment because it's run by one of our writers, but strength in numbers - species numbers! - is also key to the health of ecosystems ranging from potato fields to rivers to the inside of your gut. In contrast, when a single species is dominant, it can cause problems. Take the case of Clostridium difficile, a natural part of your gut community that causes a severe inflammation of the colon when it becomes too abundant. This bacteria, often referred to as "C diff", was named "difficile" because it was difficult to grow in a lab - not be...
