For any of us who still believe that humans can keep themselves separate from nature (or the universe) and the consequences that follow, the recent publication of the gene map of the body’s microbes may help to open your mind. Apparently, non-human microorganisms outnumber our own cells by a factor of 10 to 1! Here’s a brief summary of the WSJ article:

Researchers said Wednesday they have produced the first comprehensive genetic map of the microbes that live in or on a healthy human body, laying the groundwork for possible new advances in research and in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

The accomplishment—the result of a five-year, $173 million initiative called the Human Microbiome Project funded by the National Institutes of Health—stems from an effort to better understand bacteria and other organisms that play a critical role in processes ranging from digestion to infection.  “Most of the time we live in harmony” with them,” said Eric Green, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute. They play critical roles in digestion and other processes important for human survival.  But sometimes, the beneficial relationship breaks down, resulting in disease.  “We need to understand better what the normal microbiome is like and what happens to it when it changes to cause or influence disease,” Dr. Green said.

In a surprising development, research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology shows that a combination of the human body’s astounding capacity to heal itself and modern-medicine neurological stimuli may bring new hope for future rehabilitation in humans with severe spinal cord injuries.

This photo provided by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) on May 31, 2012, shows a researcher observing a rat walking on its hind legs during an experiment at the Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute in Ecublens. Rats with spinal cord injuries and severe paralysis are now walking thanks to researchers lead by Professor Gregoire Courtine at EPFL. Published in the June 1, 2012 issue of ‘Science’ magazine, the results show that a severed section of the spinal cord can make a comeback when its own innate intelligence and regenerative capacity is awakened. According to Gregoire Courtine, it is yet unclear if similar rehabilitation techniques could work for humans, but the observed nerve growth hints at new methods for treating paralysis.