Final answer:
The claim that human cells outnumber bacterial, fungal, and protozoan cells in the body is false.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the number of human cells in our body is greater than the number of bacterial, fungal, and protozoan cells of our normal flora is false. Research indicates that the ratio of prokaryotic cells (bacteria, archaea, etc.) to human cells is roughly 1:1, and may have been previously estimated to be as high as 10:1 in favor of prokaryotic cells. The human body is often considered an ecosystem, where bacterial cells thrive in various niches such as the gut, skin, and oral cavity, playing essential roles in processes like digestion and immune system function.
In particular, the human gut is home to a vast array of bacteria, with estimates suggesting there are more bacterial cells in the gut than human cells in the entire body, highlighting the importance of these microorganisms to human health.