With the exception of red blood cells and sperm, all our cells are powered by mitochondria, which are likely the descendants of ancient bacteria that became integrated into the type of cells that subsequently gave rise to all complex life. And even the cells we label “human” are part microbe. We literally have more microbial cells living inside our bodies than human cells. Yong illustrates that we are at least as much microbe as human. We are also utterly inseparable from them. Microbes help us digest our food, break down toxins, guide our physical development, protect us from disease, and even speed human evolution. But there are hundreds of thousands of species that live peacefully, symbiotically within us, primarily in our gut. There are approximately 100 species of bacteria that cause infectious disease in humans.
Yong makes clear that only a tiny fraction of microbes have the ability to make us sick. I Contain Multitudes is science journalism at its best.
He just keeps imparting one surprising, fascinating insight after the next. In I Contain Multitudes, Yong synthesizes literally hundreds and hundreds of papers, but he never overwhelms you with the science.
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