Some bacteria in the gut are about 15 million years old and have been many before humans appear on the earth and were present everywhere, writes Frans Press.
The discovery, carried out by scientists at the University of Berkeley, comes as an indication that evolution has played a very important role, than previously assumed, in the construction of the intestinal flora.
These bacteria contributed to the first stages of development of our intestines, as they joined our immune system in the fight against pathogenic bacteria. The microflora is capable of even affecting our behavior and mood.
According to research co-author Andrew Moller, some human intestinal bacteria are direct heirs to those who lived in the interior of our common ancestors monkeys. It comes as an indication that there was a continuous continuity, which lasted millions of years and dates from the emergence of African monkeys.
In any case, the microflora created in two unique branches, when 15.6 million years prior, the posterity of the gorillas were isolated from that of primates. The second enormous division was accomplished 5.3 million years prior, when the part of the general population isolated from that of chimpanzees.
With the end goal of the exploration, chimpanzees and gorillas were discovered made out of individuals living in Africa’s wildernesses with those of the United States.
