The topic of whether babies in the womb have their own microbes (microbial communities) is a controversial one. Recent studies have tried to figure out if this is true by looking at the microbes found in human fetuses through different scientific fields such as reproductive biology, microbial ecology, and immunology. However, the results of these studies suggest that any microbes found are probably just due to contamination during the process of getting the fetal samples. This means that there is not enough evidence to support the idea of a “fetal microbiome.” This serves as a reminder that it can be difficult to study low-biomass environments like a fetus, and a more comprehensive approach is needed that considers biological, ecological, and immunological factors.
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Is the Womb a Sterile Wonderland or a Microbial Metropolis?
GIbiome 