Belly Button Biodiversity
The coolest study of biodiversity on the human body on the planet!
The belly button is one of the habitats closest to us, and yet it remains relatively unexplored. In January 2011, we launched Belly Button Biodiversity to investigate the microbes inhabiting our navels and the factors that might influence the microscopic life calling this protected, moist patch of skin home. In addition to inspiring scientific curiosity, Belly Button Biodiversity inspired conversations about the beneficial roles microbes play in our daily lives.
- Project history
- Results and data
- Microbial Diversity in the Belly Button
- Common Belly Button Bacteria
- Life on Us Documentary (features the belly Button Biodiversity study!)
- Your Wild Life blog posts: Belly Button Biodiversity
Belly Button Biodiversity Showcase
Explore the amazing diversity of cultured bacteria from some of our participants’ belly buttons!
People
Dan Fergus, Post-doc
Sarah Council, Post-doc, NC Museum of Natural Sciences and NC Central University
Project Publications
Hulcr, J., Latimer, A. M., Henley, J. B., Rountree, N. R.**, Fierer, N., Lucky, A., Lowman, M. D., Dunn RR 2012. A jungle in there: bacteria in belly buttons are highly diverse, but predictable. PLoS ONE 7(11): e47712. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0047712
