Mother’s gene influences bacteria in the gut of her child

The gene fucosyltransferase 2 (FUT2), which is not active in all mothers, is responsible for the production of certain sugars in breast milk, Californian scientists have discovered. These sugars are not digested by the child but serve as nutrition for bacteria that colonise the gut. In this manner, the composition of breast milk has effect on the gut microbiota, according to an article published in Microbiome. Continue reading