Am I “One” or “Many”? Philosophical Considerations of the Microbiome

The microbiome shapes the self-identity concept. Are we just our genes? If so, does this include the microbial genome? When ‘self’ is numerically defined, the concept of ‘I’ is no longer singular, but includes the trillions of microbes. Similarly, diet and environment influence microbiome, blurring the border between ‘self’ and environment. As co-editor of the book 'The Human Microbiome: Ethical, Legal and Social Concerns', Dr. Gligorov will tackle these questions of self-identity as honed by science.