Research suggests bacteria may be present in the human GI tract before birth. But coherent experimental approaches are needed to determine whether bacteria actually colonize pre-birth.

The holobiont concept extends a central organism to include the microbes in, on and around it. With this idea, it's no simple task determining where an organism ends and the outside world begins.

Interdisciplinary research on social justice for underserved communities is often neglected, but important to ensure that healthy microbiomes are accessible to everyone.