Amplify Microbiome Final Argument: Defending a Subclaim About Helpful Bacteria
In this assignment, you will choose one of two subclaims about how bacteria from a fecal transplant can help a patient. You will then write a paragraph defending your chosen subclaim using evidence from the readings and experiments about either B. fragilis or L. reuteri bacteria. Be sure to clearly state your subclaim, use specific evidence, and explain how your evidence supports your subclaim. Use the information from the articles and experiments you have read in this lesson.
Source 1
B. fragilis bacteria make up a small but important population in the healthy gut microbiome. These bacteria normally help humans in several ways. First, they strengthen the body’s defenses by helping the immune system produce enough immune cells to kill harmful invading bacteria.
Experiment 2: Mice with only B. fragilis in their gut had high immune cell levels but low gut mucus levels.
L. reuteri bacteria help us digest food and produce vitamins that aid human health, but that isn’t all they do. They also help protect humans from infection. L. reuteri helps the gut lining to produce mucus, which protects the gut and keeps it healthy. Large numbers of L. reuteri grow together in sheets stuck to the walls of the gut, preventing harmful bacteria from using that living space.
Experiment 3: Mice with only L. reuteri in their gut had high gut mucus levels but low immune cell levels.
Microbiome—Lesson 2.6, The Regents of the University of California, 2018.
Source 2
You can also use this evidence to help you support your subclaim.
Group 1
Write a paragraph that:
- Clearly states which subclaim you are defending.
- Uses evidence from the readings and experiments about the correct bacteria (B. fragilis for Subclaim 2, L. reuteri for Subclaim 3).
- Explains how your evidence supports your chosen subclaim.
Source 1.1
Choose ONE subclaim to defend:
- Subclaim 2: Bacteria from the fecal transplant can help the patient’s body produce immune cells that kill invading bacteria. (Use evidence about B. fragilis)
- Subclaim 3: Bacteria from the fecal transplant can help the patient’s body produce mucus that protects the gut from invading bacteria. (Use evidence about L. reuteri)
Question 1a
Write a paragraph defending ONE of the subclaims. Use evidence from the readings and experiments about the correct bacteria (B. fragilis for Subclaim 2, L. reuteri for Subclaim 3). Be sure to:
- Clearly state which subclaim you are defending.
- Use at least one piece of evidence from the articles or experiments.
- Explain how your evidence supports your chosen subclaim.
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