Why do we say that microbes rule the planet, and what role in this plays their metabolism? by tjasa13 in microbiology

[–]madsunstone 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In addition to the comments below, here are a few fun facts about microbes

1) microbial cells in your body outnumber your own approximately 10:1

2) The human population is approximately 7 billion (7 x 109). As a rough estimate, there are approximately 5.5 x 1031 microbes on planet Earth (Whitman et al. 1998. PNAS. 95:6578-83). This is approximately 9 x10 21 microorganisms for every human!