Bellybutton boffins have discovered that along with the odd piece of fluff, thousands of species of bacteria take up residence in our navels.
US researchers have spent the last two years analysing the bellybuttons of 500 people and found 2,368 species bacteria, 1,458 of which may be new to science.
Rob Dunn of North Carolina State University said: “The common, abundant species are from a relatively small number of evolutionary lines, indicating that they have evolved traits that make them at home on human skin,’ said Rob Dunn of North Carolina State University.
“However, we are still trying to figure out what determines which of these species are found in a given person’s belly button.
“We’ve looked at sex, age, ethnicity and a number of other factors — none of them are predictive of which species live in that person.”
The researchers began the investigation to establish whether or not organisms on human skin form the body’s first line of defense against pathogens.
According to National Geographic, Dr Dunn said the diversity of bacteria is similar to that of a rainforest’s population.
“The idea that some aspects of our bodies are like a rain forest—to me it’s quite beautiful. And it makes sense to me as an ecologist. I understand what steps to take next; I can see how that works.”
We’re not sure ‘beautiful’ is the right word Dr Dunn.
