My m=1 Microbiome: Data for Epimicrobiomics Thinkering

The whole truth is wholly elusive.

But that doesn't mean we don't try.

"Blind men and a elephant" is an insightful parable that frames truth-seeking perceptively: Given our personal opacities, we individually conceive varying realities to some degree, despite seeking the same underlying "truth" ultimately.

About four years ago, Craig Ventor published his personal genome online; he wanted the information content of his genetic material to be made freely available publicly; he wanted to advance the Human Genome Project using his n=1 DNA sequencing.

In a similar spirit, in light of the Human Microbiome Project, below are the results of a DNA analysis of my GI microbiota (thx2Dr.BG); that is, my m=1 personal microbiome:

Given the Gut-Brain connection, it's not a stretch to suggest that the m=1 microbiome interjects in our personal m=1 my-thologies when it comes to comprehending our reasons for being.

Personally, I suspect that my m=1 microbiome has something to say about my Raison d'etre at the end of the day.

"Seize the day" is what this epimicrobiomics plasticity has to say.

To good health,

Brent

Bumbling and Stumbling Nonlinearly via Poetry

(Graphic by Sarah Rebich)

Above all, I'm thankful for my family and my friends.

Thankfully, I can count Brian Geremia (President of Ancestry) and Aaron Blaisdell (President of the Ancestral Health Society) as friends--friendships are blessings.

In response to my previous poem--"Stumbling Upon Ancestry"--Brian composed a thoughtful analysis--"Reflection on 'Stumbling Upon Ancestry'"--on his new personal Blog.

Then, Aaron crafted this untitled piece of poetry; I'll call it, "Ancestry and Me":

Ancestry begins and ends in me.

I am the product of a branching tree.

The terminal branch from many successions

of evolution and devolution, progressions and regressions.

From the first spark of life to my daughters and my wife,

from the Earth's ecosystem to my "microbe-cosm".

We never reach perfection, only strive to see

a world better suited for you and for me.

Utopia is an ideal unrealistic in scope,

but towards me-topia I strive with excitement and hope.

Each n=1 trail blazes its own path

‘till we achieve an N=1.

The Black Swan’s fractal math!

Cheers to bumbling and stumbling nonlinearly (via poetry)!

To good health,

Brent

Stumbling Upon Ancestry

"Stumbling Upon Ancestry"

From these ashes they will rise:
Institutions that we newly derive.

Institutions that we re-create glocally;
That is, institutions that we scale up fractally.

From the individual to the family;
From the family to the community:
We'll band back together synergistically,
And help each other regain our dignity, our integrity.

That is, we'll organize society like Mother Nature,
And we'll do good locally to do good globally.

From this platform entangled interactions will emerge;
Serendipitous interactions will be our spurs.

And we'll stumble upon organizational structures by thinkering.

That is, we'll stumble upon Ancestry.

NNT's envelope of serendipity.

Unexpectedly.

Spontaneously.

Unpredictably.

Finally.

To good health,

Brent

PS. I'm still working on extending G's rough-draft essay.