Lesson 2.5 - Microbiome

Open Ended

1. Review the new data about Patient 23.

2. What differences do you notice in Patient 23’s gut microbiome between weeks 7 and 9? Record at least two observations.

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Explaining Evidence

With a partner, take turns explaining how each piece of evidence helps support the subclaim.

• Partner A describes the evidence below.

• Partner B asks "Why does this evidence matter?"

• Partner A explains how this evidence supports the claim.

• Partners switch roles, using a new piece of evidence.

How can fecal transplants cure patients infected with harmful bacteria?

Subclaim 1: Bacteria from the fecal transplant can fill up the space in the gut, limiting the food and space for invading harmful bacteria.

Evidence from Patient 23’s Case Study, Week 7 and Week 9

​Partner A

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Explaining Evidence

With a partner, take turns explaining how each piece of evidence helps support the subclaim.

• Partner A describes the evidence below.

• Partner B asks "Why does this evidence matter?"

• Partner A explains how this evidence supports the claim.

• Partners switch roles, using a new piece of evidence.

How can fecal transplants cure patients infected with harmful bacteria?

Subclaim 1: Bacteria from the fecal transplant can fill up the space in the gut, limiting the food and space for invading harmful bacteria.

Evidence from Experiment 1: Salmonella Bacteria

In the data from the experiments with mice, it can be seen that the mice with normal amounts of bacteria in their gut microbiomes were much less likely to get sick from a Salmonella infection. These mice had enough helpful bacteria to take away the food and space from the harmful Salmonella bacteria.

​Partner B

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Explaining Evidence

With a partner, take turns explaining how each piece of evidence helps support the subclaim.

• Partner A describes the evidence below.

• Partner B asks "Why does this evidence matter?"

• Partner A explains how this evidence supports the claim.

• Partners switch roles, using a new piece of evidence.

How can fecal transplants cure patients infected with harmful bacteria?

Subclaim 1: Bacteria from the fecal transplant can fill up the space in the gut, limiting the food and space for invading harmful bacteria.

Evidence from "The Human Microbiome"

“Even though they are tiny, bacteria are living things with the same basic needs that all living things share. The human body provides bacteria with the food and living space they need—that’s what makes our bodies such a good environment for bacteria.”

​Partner A & B

​this evidence shows that the fecal transplant added more bacteria to the gut, which took up space and could have prevented the C. difficile from growing more.

​bacteria from the fecal transplant can fill up the space in the gut, limiting the food and space for invading harmful bacteria.

​Copy this on to your paper.

​this experiment provides evidence that having more healthy bacteria can protect you from bad bacteria.

​C. difficile are living things that need space and food. If they don't have these things, they will die.

Open Ended

A fecal transplant can work to cure a patient infected with a very harmful bacteria, such as C. difficile, in many different ways.

Subclaim 1: Bacteria from the fecal transplant can fill up the space in the gut, limiting the food and space for invading harmful bacteria.

Write a paragraph that supports Subclaim 1. Include evidence and explain how your evidence supports this subclaim.

To help you write, review your work from this lesson, including the Reasoning Tool.

To help you organize your thinking and construct your ideas, refer to the Argumentation Sentence Starters.