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Human Superorganism

Meaning

This biological concept defines the human being not as a single organism but as an integrated, symbiotic community composed of human cells and trillions of non-human microbial cells, primarily residing in the gut, skin, and mucosal surfaces. The microbial component, the microbiome, contributes more genes and metabolic functions than the host genome alone, making it an essential, co-dependent part of human physiology. This superorganism model is critical for understanding health, as the function of the host’s endocrine and immune systems is deeply intertwined with the metabolic output of its microbial residents.