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What shapes my microbiome?

Your microbiome is like a unique fingerprint, shaped by many things. Genetics play a part, as do your diet and lifestyle. Even where you live and the people you interact with influence the bacteria on your skin and inside you. This mix is why some people's body odour might be more appealing to mosquitoes, as the story explains.

Stories that explain this

Skin bacteria and body odour make some people mosquito magnets

Questions this opens up

Can diet change my microbiome? Do antibiotics affect my microbiome? How does my environment affect my microbiome?

Related explainers

Is my microbiome unique? What is 'skin microbiome'? Why do mosquitoes bite some? How much does research cost? How do repellents work? How do disabilities shape careers? Who found the shapes? How do genes shape behaviour?

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