Consequently, many questions remain unasked and unanswered. For example, what would the removal of cellulose weight from stool do to the process of defecation? What other effects might the microbes have on the human body?
How do we deal with the other byproducts of cellulose hydrolysis such as methane production? These questions could be analyzed through observation. Other mammals have survived many millennia by digesting cellulose with microbes, and since humans are mammals, there are no underlying reasons why human bodies cannot be compatible with these organisms.
The microbes that currently reside in the human body already produce gases inside the digestive system, ten percent of which is methane 3. Methane production used to be viewed as a problem at cattle ranches and dairy farms, but methane itself is a highly energetic biogas that can be used as fuel.
Harnessing it might prove difficult considering that current social graves do not favor open flatulence even for the sake of renewable energy.
However, certain diets richer in alfalfa and flaxseed have been proven to reduce methane production in cows, which could potentially solve that problem Vegetation, which is severely lacking in the modern diet, is the major source of insoluble fiber. Vegetables contain many vitamins, nutrients, and soluble fiber, which has numerous health benefits as mentioned in the introduction.
Adding these foods to our diet after adding cellulose-digesting capabilities could help assuage the obesity epidemic and significantly improve human health. Ultimately, improving human digestion could vastly reduce waste generated by humans and increase the efficiency of human consumption.
We only need to better observe and understand those particular microbes to integrate them into our bodies, which are already structurally favorable for such a change. With the successful integration of microbes, we could cut down on food intake by making use of the energy in previously indigestible cellulose, reduce cellulosic waste by turning it into food, solve problems of food shortages by making algae, grass, straw, and even wood edible, and eventually turn human bodies into a source of renewable energy.
References 1. Cellulose Human Digestive System Mills, Comparative Anatomy of Eating Baldwin, R. Abe, D. Bignell, M. Higashi, Ed. Friendly Bacteria in the Digestive System Lactase Fascinating article. Great article. How would one go about consuming cellulosic material? Like, can you just start chewing on leaves or does one need to process plant biomass before ingestion?
No offense to cattle, but seriously. A burping horse? Home News Views. How a Cow Works. Published: August 10, Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Yes No. Share this article. What did you find helpful? What was not helpful? Say more Sign me up for the PetMD Newsletter. Note that as the name suggests, this digestive process by anaerobic bacteria does not require oxygen. These micro-organisms responsible for the digestion of cellulose are primarily found in the rumen.
The ruminococcus bacteria is most important in the breakdown of plant fibre into the monosaccharide glucose which can be further digested through glycolysis. Therefore, cows can digest cellulose without necessarily encoding for the required enzyme. Other types of bacteria responsible for the digestion of plant matter include megasphaera, fibrobacter, streptococcus, escherichia, chytridiomycetes fungi as well as methanogens. There are hundreds of different kinds of bacteria found in the rumen that help to efficiently break down cellulose.
It is said that cellulose digestive microbe appear as soon as 38 hours after birth. Nonetheless, despite the numerous amount of bacteria found in the rumen, supposedly only 0. Another point to note is that the amount of ruminococcus bacteria found in the rumen depends on the type of feed.
Livestock with dietary plans that primarily consist of plant matter develop high levels of cellulolytic bacteria and the opposite applies to those provided with a dietary plan with limited plant material. Since cows can digest cellulose, other species with a similar digestive system are also able to efficiently breakdown cellulose. Basically all ruminants have digestive systems that allow for the digestion of cellulose. This includes goats and sheep as they also have stomachs made up of four distinct compartments that each play a similar role in the digestive process.
Research findings reveal that over millions of years of evolution has allowed animal species to adapt to different climates and conditions as a means to survive. As such, just as cows can digest cellulose, other animal species such as tapirs and horses have digestive systems that also contain the necessary bacteria to digest cellulose.
However, the fermentation process mainly takes place in the intestine as opposed to the stomach. They cross-feed, as some bacteria break down specific proteins and carbohydrates into forms that others use. Some bacteria prevent the rumen from becoming toxic by cleaning the waste products of others. The cow digests the nutrients released by the microbes.
As the digestive process works, many of the bacteria are swept from the rumen into the rest of the digestive system and also provide nutrients for the cow. To maintain their population in the rumen, they have to multiply rapidly. The population of one type of bacteria can double in minutes.
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