The idea of the "holobiont” was originally conceived of by a theoretical biologist named Adolf Meyer-Abich but was later independently discovered and popularized by Dr. Lynn Margulis, the heterodox pioneer behind endosymbiont theory, which is the preferred evolutionary explanation for the existence of chloroplasts and mitochondria in plant and animal cells, respectively.
The idea of the holobiont concerns broadening the borders of what we consider a discrete biological unit of life. In other words, what we often think of as a standalone organism is actually a dynamic assemblage of many living things. Those who favor this view of biology, advocate for a broader systems perspective and are often interested in fields of research like microbiomics, the nexus between genomics and microbiology.
My guest today,
, is a third-year medical student with a early but strong background in the study of the microbiome. Dennis is particularly interested in what the study of the tumor microbiome can reveal about cancer and outside-of-the-box treatment approaches. This is both a hot and controversial subject in biomedical research, and Dennis provides a nuanced and passionate perspective on the field.
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