Developmental Biology – Thomas Bosch, Professor of General Zoology at Kiel University – The Microbiome, Metaorganisms, and the Elements of Life

Finding Genius Podcast

Thomas Bosch, Professor of General Zoology at Kiel University, discusses his intensive work studying animal life, cell and developmental biology, and more.

Fascinated by the sciences, Bosch studied Biology at the University of Munich and Swansea University College in the UK, earned a doctorate from the University of Munich, then held a postdoctoral position at the University of California, Irvine. Bosch is Senior Fellow of the prestigious Canadian Institute of Advanced Research (CIFAR).

As Professor of General Zoology at Kiel University, Bosch is heavily involved in groundbreaking research studying multiple areas, including healthy aging, stem cells therapy, and more. Bosch studies the multiple, complex interactions that take place within metaorganisms, between host cells and microbes. Bosch discusses his laboratory work, and some of the surprising findings they have discovered along the way. He discusses the study of organisms, from a historical perspective, with an emphasis on sequencing, the microbiome and microbe life. He explains the microbiota (diverse ecological communities of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms that can be found in, and on, all multicellular organisms) and how different species maintain their microbiota.

Bosch explains how natural birthing provides babies with important microbes that are helpful, and thus C-section delivered babies have trouble as they are denied the natural microbes provided via a vaginal birth. He explains the intricacies of the various body microbiomes, and the “invisible armada” of microbes. Continuing, Bosch talks about some of the areas of study that are being intensely investigating that pertain to his field, cellular life, etc. And he talks about the new visualization techniques which allow researchers to dig deeper into their studies.

In this podcast you’ll learn about:

The importance of the microbiome

Why C-section delivered babies may have more troubles

How species maintain the microbiota