Genetics and birthplace have a big effect on the makeup of the microbial community in the gut, according to research published in the journal Nature Microbiology.

The findings by a team of scientists from the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) represent an attempt to untangle the forces that shape the gut microbiome, which plays an important role in keeping us healthy. (Related news link)