Question

The close contact between newborns and family members allow them to become ________ with microbes that become established as their microbiota. (Choose the most accurate term.) The close contact between newborns and family members allow them to become ________ with microbes that become established as their microbiota. (Choose the most accurate term.) infected parasitized infiltrated colonized contaminated

Answer 1

contaminated

Step-by-step explanation:

The gut microbiome has a fundamental role during the first years of life. Newborns 'contaminate' with microbes from contact with family members, and, subsequently, these microorganisms act to colonize their gut microbiome. Metagenomics analyses showed that microbiome diversity may be very high among infants and early microbial colonization has been shown to be critical during this process. The gut microbiota has critical functions which include, among others, nutrient homeostasis, mineral absorption, enzymatic activity, synthesis of amino acids, etc. It has been reported that early microbial colonization can even modulate target gene expression through the alteration of epigenetic marks (i.e., differential DNA methylation patterns).