Based on What You Know About the Microbiome, Which of the Following

question 2

Multiple Choice

Based on what you know about the microbiome, which of the following statements is most accurate?

• A) Once established, a person's microbiome is stable throughout life.
• B) Certain familial diseases that appear to be genetic may actually result from bacterial genes as opposed to human genes.
• C) Periodically taking antibiotics may help the microbiome grow stronger by killing off harmful bacteria and allowing beneficial bacteria to proliferate.
• D) Frequent use of antibacterial cleansers should become a priority so as to minimize exposure to harmful bacteria.

---

Definitions:

Keystone Species

Keystone species are species that have a disproportionately large effect on their community or ecosystem relative to their abundance, playing a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community.

Community

In ecology, a community is a group of interacting species living in the same area, sharing a common environment.

Small Numbers

A numerical quantity categorized as being less than some arbitrary value, often context-specific.

Keystone Species

A species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other organisms in the ecosystem.