In this episode, Dr. James McIlroy interviews Dr. Ran Blekhman, an associate professor at the University of Chicago, about the microbiome and its role as 'our second genome.'

Dr. Blekhman shares his research findings on the genetic and environmental factors that shape the microbiome, the heritability of microbial genes, and the relationship between the human genome and microbiome. They also discuss Dr. Blekhman's groundbreaking research that analysed over 168,000 samples to understand global microbiome patterns, the influence of early-life microbiome development, and the potential of microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics. Tune in for a comprehensive dive into one of the most promising areas of genetic and microbial research.

00:00 Introduction to Dr. R Blackman and the Microbiome

01:23 Podcast Growth and Listener Engagement

01:56 Starting the Conversation with Dr. Blackman

02:04 Exploring the Second Genome

02:24 Human Genome vs. Microbiome

03:23 Genetic Interactions with the Microbiome

04:02 Understanding Microbial Genes and Functions

05:40 Heritability and Environmental Factors

06:53 Microbiome Diversity and Heritability

08:57 Research on Microbiome Heritability

17:18 Baboon Model System for Microbiome Studies

18:56 Population Scale Microbiome Research

25:27 Global Patterns and Data Integration

33:36 The Untapped Potential of Microbiome Data

35:08 Hypotheses and Discoveries in Microbiome Research

36:46 Geographical Variations in Microbiome

49:18 Technical Challenges and Methodologies

52:20 AI and Machine Learning in Microbiome Studies

54:59 Future Directions and Clinical Applications

01:00:38 Exploring Early Life Microbiome

01:03:30 Conclusion and Further Reading