It is evident that our physical traits are a direct legacy of our lineage. But what about what is not seen? Do we also inherit the trillions of bacteria that live in our gut?
If you have ever wondered why everyone in your house seems to have a "delicate stomach" or why you share certain digestive tendencies with your grandparents, the answer is fascinating: yes, there is a microbial heritage, but it does not work exactly like your eye color.
Vertical transmission
The first contact with your bacterial heritage occurs at birth. In science, this is known as vertical transmission.
During childbirth (especially if it is vaginal) and through breastfeeding, the mother transfers an initial "seed" of bacteria to the baby. In fact, recent studies suggest that specific bacterial strains from your mother can persist in your gut for years, acting as an invisible family signature.
However, this is just the beginning. As you grow, your environment shapes that community. So where does your genetics come in?
Your DNA sets the playing field
This is where genetics becomes crucial. Imagine your body is a garden. Bacteria are the seeds, but your DNA determines the quality of the soil.
Although you don't inherit a specific bacterium as if it were a gene, you do inherit the "host genetics" from your parents. Your genetic code dictates:
- The structure of your intestinal mucosa.
- The composition of your immune system.
- How you metabolize certain nutrients.
This creates a highly selective environment. Your genetics creates an internal "climate" that makes certain inherited bacteria thrive and others not. That is why, even if two people eat exactly the same thing, their microbiomes will be different: because the playing field they inherited from their ancestors is different.
Why does my whole family have a delicate stomach?
This is one of the most frequent doubts. If your parents and grandparents suffered from heavy digestions, it is very likely that you also have that predisposition. And the cause is a mixture of two factors:
- Shared genetics: Hereditary genetic variants (like the ones we analyze through a DNA test such as tellmeGen's) that can predispose to inflammation or food sensitivities.
- Family microbiota: By living together, families share diet, lifestyle, and environment, which tends to homogenize the intestinal flora of all household members.
Knowing that you come from a family with certain digestive characteristics gives you the advantage of being able to take better care of yourself. Taking the step to analyze your current situation with a microbiota test like the ones we do at Vivabioma will allow you to discover exactly which bacteria are thriving in your ecosystem so you can take control of your gut health.
Your microbiota is unique, like a fingerprint, but it carries the echo of your family history. You are the result of your parents' genetics and the environment you share with them.
