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(dramatic violins)
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Downloaded from
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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(dramatic music)
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- [Voiceover] Of the millions
of species that belong
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to planet Earth, what
is it that sets us apart
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from all the others?
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Is it our inquiring minds?
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Our ability to explore.
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To discover.
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And to reason.
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Ever since the dawn of civilization.
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We have pursued the
answer to one question.
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Who are we?
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We have looked to the stars.
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We have searched our souls.
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But the answers seldom satisfy for long.
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Why are we so different?
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We connect, communicate, invent,
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and create.
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We are able to cure,
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to treat, to extend life,
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even to create life.
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We have built cities that touch the sky.
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We have flown amongst the clouds.
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- [Voiceover] That's
one small step for man.
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- [Voiceover] And traveled far beyond.
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- [Voiceover] One giant leap for mankind.
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- We challenge ourselves.
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And while we are not perfect--
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- [Voiceover] We shall
fight on the beaches,
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we shall fight on the landing grounds,
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we shall never surrender.
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- [Voiceover] I have a dream.
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- [Voiceover] We endeavor
to better ourselves--
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- [Voiceover] That all
men our created equal.
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- [Voiceover] And now,
we have surely arrived
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at the golden age of technology,
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but our journey still continues.
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- [Voiceover] Hello from the
children of planet Earth.
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(men speaking foreign language)
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Who are we?
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We are amazing.
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We are human beings,
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and we have risen above
all others to become
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the dominant species on planet Earth.
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Never before have we
appeared to be stronger,
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more powerful, and more in control.
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Why is it then, that
at this moment in time,
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our species has never been sicker?
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- We think we're at the
pinnacle of our existence.
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Look at the technology that
human kind has available now.
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And yet the reality is,
we've never been sicker.
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And it's going to get worse.
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- We have been facing a
rising epidemic of plagues.
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From asthma to obesity,
to allergic diseases.
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This has been going on
continuously over the last decades.
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And there's no real sign
that it's letting up.
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- When you have asthma or
inflammation within the lung,
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you see cells that are not
normally suppose to be there
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invading that space,
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so you cannot exchange
the air quite as well.
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And this an example of that invasion.
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And this is inflammation
within the lung sacks.
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- [Voiceover] The World Health
Organization has declared
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non-communicable diseases have
reached epidemic proportions.
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Diseases such as asthma,
diabetes, coeliac disease,
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obesity, cardiovascular
diseases, some cancers,
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and mental disorders.
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This diseases currently
account for over 60%
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of all deaths globally,
and they are on the rise.
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The World Health Organization
estimates total deaths
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from non-communicable
diseases will increase by
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a further 17% within the next decade.
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The World Economic Forum
and the Harvard School
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of Public Health have predicted
that the cost of treating
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these diseases has the
potential to bankrupt
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global healthcare
systems by the year 2030.
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- So, the model that
was compiled together by
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the World Economic Forum
and the Harvard School
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of Public Health
estimated that the cost of
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non-communicable diseases
between 2010 and 2030
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would reach a staggering $47 trillion.
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That is a huge sum.
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To put this into context,
the combined economic output
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of most countries in the
world in a given year
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is less than $1 trillion.
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And they're estimating
a cost of $47 trillion.
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It is a staggering sum indeed.
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- By the year 2030, almost
half of the net worth
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of the world is going to go
toward treating these diseases.
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That's not sustainable.
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We're bankrupting ourselves.
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And the problem is that we're
creating an invalid society.
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We have people that are too sick to work.
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We don't have enough
caretakers for those people.
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We're not going to have
medical services to provide
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for that number of people.
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We simply can't afford it.
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We're hitting the wall right now.
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- We're increasingly
seeing a world out there
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with what is really a
public health time bomb
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waiting to go off.
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And the research that
we're doing suggests that
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it's only going to get worse,
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generation on generation.
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So, tomorrow's generation
really is on the edge
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of the precipice.
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- Unless we face it, there's
no indication that it's
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gonna get any better.
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And I'm afraid that it will get worse.
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And that means shorter lives.
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And lives with more misery.
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And more susceptibility
to the big pandemics.
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So, there's a lot of risk out there.
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But we have the tools.
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And if we had the way, we could fix it.
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- [Voiceover] Four lifestyle
risk factors have been
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identified by the World
Health Organization as driving
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this epidemic:
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smoking,
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misuse of alcohol,
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poor diet,
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and lack of exercise.
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But what if this isn't
the complete picture?
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What if there is an
important piece of the jigsaw
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that up until now, has been missed?
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Scientists have recently
embarked on a new journey
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of discovery.
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A journey that takes us through
the lens of a microscope
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to discover who we really are.
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And how a species could
get so sick so fast.
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Let's rewind to the
origins of life on Earth.
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To 3.4 billion years ago.
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All life on planet Earth
evolved from bacteria.
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Over billions and millions of years,
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bacteria spread far and
wide across the planet.
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In the deepest oceans, in
the heart of mountains,
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in the atmosphere.
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- Life appeared on Earth
about 3.4 billion years ago.
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And they were first.
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This is a microbial planet.
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Mostly bacteria.
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And any other forms of
life that came after
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had to deal with bacteria.
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Some bacteria involved into
and with other life forms
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to become more complex organisms
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and complex ecosystems.
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For life at its healthiest,
exists as an ecosystem.
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A diversity of species that coexist.
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That live in harmony.
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That live in balance.
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But when the harmony is disturbed
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and the balance is upset,
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or when that diversity
of species is reduced,
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the ecosystem may become
vulnerable to disease,
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and could even die.
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- If you removed half
of the types of trees
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in a very diverse forest,
it doesn't stay the same
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for the rest of the trees that are there.
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There's extra space.
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The dynamics of the interactions
are completely changed.
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Of the insects, the
animals, may be changed
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because of habitat, and the entire forest
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takes on a totally different flavor.
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And in some cases, a very
unpredictable flavor.
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This can happen in a local ecosystem.
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It can happen at a planetary level,
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but it can also happen at the micro level.
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It can even happen within us.
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Because we are a walking ecosystem.
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The human body is host
to trillions of microbes.
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They outnumber our human
cells by an astonishing ratio
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of 10:1.
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- So, it's estimated that
we have about 10 trillion
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human cells in our body,
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and the current estimate
is that we have about
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a 100 trillion microbes
living in our body.
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And that's how it is everyday of our life.
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- We're 90% microbial
and only 10% mammalian.
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The microbial part is
said to be our microbiome.
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- So, the microbiome are all the organisms
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that live in the human body.
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Bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa.
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They're the organisms
that live in and on us
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that make us home.
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- We estimate that they're
approximately a thousand
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species in the intestine.
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Approximately 700 in the mouth.
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Approximately 300 to 400 in the vagina.
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Approximately 700 in the skin.
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- You know, I used to be aware that I had
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organisms on my skin and in my gut
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and inside me,
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but to now think about this me,
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which is more microbe than human cells,
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I don't know as if it connects
me to universe a bit more.
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- [Voiceover] This
relationship between bacteria
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and our human cells is
one based on cooperation
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and collaboration.
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For thousands of years, this
relationship has evolved.
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We provide a home, a
habitat for the bacteria.
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In return, the bacteria in us and on us
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help provide security.
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Their important in helping
us function as humans
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should not be underestimated.
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Bacteria help regulate our metabolism,
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and they play an essential
role in setting up
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our immune system.
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- We have grown up with our microbes
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over many, many generations.
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And in fact, we form what's called
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a symbiotic super organism.
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Because we do things for each other.
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And those things are very
important for the health
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of the total organism.
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- [Voiceover] Oue own
ecosystem has thrived,
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a diversity of species and balance.
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But in the last century or so,
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this ecosystem has become under threat.
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- Just like a forest, you
can't start cutting out
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major sectors, major tree
species, reduce the diversity,
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and expect things to stay the same and
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that forest to stay healthy.
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It doesn't and we don't when
we've lost the diversity
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in our microbes.
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- [Voiceover] The way we live our lives
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has changed dramatically.
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And scientists are now
hypothesizing that this is having
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an effect on our ecosystem.
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The balance has become disturbed.
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The scales are starting to tip.
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The ecosystem has become sick.
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- Let's say you have 10 diseases that
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are rising at the same time.
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Each one might have a separate cause.
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Or perhaps there's one
thing that's fueling
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them all, that's causing
all of them to rise.
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And I think that one thing is a change
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in our microbiome,
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and what I've called missing microbes,
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or the disappearing microbiota hypothesis.
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That our ancient
microbiome which protected
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us against many diseases is degrading.
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And with that degradation,
these diseases are being fueled.
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- When we compare our microbiomes
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with those from peoples
living isolated in jungles
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of South America for example,
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with no record of exposure
to antibiotics before,
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we estimate we have lost
about a third of the diversity
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of our microbes.
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- It's pretty clear that
our diversity is going down.
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And that to an ecologist is dangerous.
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Because the diversity protects us.
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We have evidence that the
organisms are disappearing.
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So, the question is why?
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And I would say part of it is modern life.
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Nothing prepared our microbiome
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for clean water, and smaller families,
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and Caesarean sections,
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and anti-bacterial substances everywhere,
262
00:13:20,674 --> 00:13:23,454
and of course 70 years of antibiotics.
263
00:13:23,454 --> 00:13:26,134
- [Voiceover] In 1928,
Sir Alexander Fleming
264
00:13:26,134 --> 00:13:29,034
made a world changing discovery.
265
00:13:29,034 --> 00:13:30,634
Penicillin.
266
00:13:30,634 --> 00:13:33,054
- Initially, a very small amount
267
00:13:33,054 --> 00:13:35,014
of penicillin could be made.
268
00:13:35,014 --> 00:13:37,794
In the case of penicillin,
it's caused by a fungus,
269
00:13:37,794 --> 00:13:39,014
or a mold.
270
00:13:39,014 --> 00:13:41,814
And in the early 1940s,
271
00:13:41,814 --> 00:13:43,669
while World War II was going on,
272
00:13:43,669 --> 00:13:46,749
scientists were looking for
a good source of penicillin,
273
00:13:46,749 --> 00:13:49,249
a mold that really produced a lot.
274
00:13:49,249 --> 00:13:51,769
And that mold where
most of the penicillin,
275
00:13:51,769 --> 00:13:53,549
even til today comes from,
276
00:13:53,549 --> 00:13:57,249
came from one moldy
cantaloupe in Illinois.
277
00:13:57,249 --> 00:14:00,249
And that was the great
strain that produced
278
00:14:00,249 --> 00:14:02,349
huge amounts and we could harness that
279
00:14:02,349 --> 00:14:05,309
to good for us.
280
00:14:05,309 --> 00:14:07,589
- [Voiceover] That moldy
melon, and the arrival
281
00:14:07,589 --> 00:14:10,809
of mass produced
antibiotics changed the face
282
00:14:10,809 --> 00:14:12,649
of modern medicine.
283
00:14:12,649 --> 00:14:16,569
- For those of us who've
lived in recent decades,
284
00:14:16,569 --> 00:14:20,189
historically, we've lived in
a quite a privileged period
285
00:14:20,189 --> 00:14:21,709
of human history, because we've had these
286
00:14:21,709 --> 00:14:24,069
powerful medicines to fight these bacteria
287
00:14:24,069 --> 00:14:25,909
that cause disease.
288
00:14:25,909 --> 00:14:28,489
- Antibiotics underpin most medicine.
289
00:14:28,489 --> 00:14:31,809
It's hard to do surgery
without antibiotics.
290
00:14:31,809 --> 00:14:35,689
It's hard to do transplantation,
or chemotherapy.
291
00:14:35,689 --> 00:14:39,089
We need antibiotics to help
protect us against bacteria.
292
00:14:39,089 --> 00:14:42,769
And in consequence,
antibiotics are being used
293
00:14:42,769 --> 00:14:44,649
more and more and more.
294
00:14:44,649 --> 00:14:46,869
And certainly, here in the United States,
295
00:14:46,869 --> 00:14:49,529
they're very much overused.
296
00:14:49,529 --> 00:14:51,569
- [Voiceover] Widespread
use of broad spectrum
297
00:14:51,569 --> 00:14:55,349
antibiotics kill off good
bacteria as well as disease
298
00:14:55,349 --> 00:14:57,289
causing pathogens.
299
00:14:57,289 --> 00:15:00,609
Combined this with the use
of antibacterial products
300
00:15:00,609 --> 00:15:04,789
that claim to kill 99.9% of all bacteria.
301
00:15:04,789 --> 00:15:08,009
And it seems that over the past 70 years,
302
00:15:08,009 --> 00:15:11,369
we have been waging war on our microbes.
303
00:15:11,369 --> 00:15:16,369
This may be taking its toll
on our microbial populations.
304
00:15:18,758 --> 00:15:21,098
But where does our microbiome come from?
305
00:15:21,098 --> 00:15:25,278
When are the seeds of our
bacterial ecosystem sewn?
306
00:15:25,278 --> 00:15:28,019
The critical time for
seeding our microbiome
307
00:15:28,019 --> 00:15:31,078
happens during childbirth.
308
00:15:31,078 --> 00:15:33,798
Preparations for founding
the baby's bacterial
309
00:15:33,798 --> 00:15:37,938
ecosystem actually start inside
the mother during pregnancy.
310
00:15:37,938 --> 00:15:40,198
Scientists believe the baby grows up
311
00:15:40,198 --> 00:15:43,278
in a near sterile environment in the womb.
312
00:15:43,278 --> 00:15:46,358
Emerging research suggests
that a small number
313
00:15:46,358 --> 00:15:50,138
of bacterial communities may
be present in the placenta.
314
00:15:50,138 --> 00:15:53,198
And other recent research
suggests that small colonies
315
00:15:53,198 --> 00:15:56,318
of bacteria might also
be present in the womb.
316
00:15:56,318 --> 00:16:01,258
But the main seeding
event occurs at birth.
317
00:16:01,258 --> 00:16:03,778
In the weeks and days
leading up to the birth,
318
00:16:03,778 --> 00:16:06,778
key bacterial species gather
in the mother's breasts
319
00:16:06,778 --> 00:16:10,728
and her vagina, then
during labor and birth.
320
00:16:10,728 --> 00:16:13,398
A special cocktail of
bacteria is transferred from
321
00:16:13,398 --> 00:16:16,038
the mother to the baby in the birth canal.
322
00:16:16,038 --> 00:16:21,038
(woman laughing)
(water splashing)
323
00:16:25,218 --> 00:16:27,538
- And as the baby starts going out through
324
00:16:27,538 --> 00:16:30,358
the birth canal, the baby is acquiring the
325
00:16:30,358 --> 00:16:32,898
mother's bacteria from the vagina,
326
00:16:32,898 --> 00:16:35,158
the baby is covered with the bacteria.
327
00:16:35,158 --> 00:16:38,718
The baby is coated, is
swallowing the bacteria.
328
00:16:38,718 --> 00:16:41,198
And that's the baby's first introduction
329
00:16:41,198 --> 00:16:42,298
to the world of bacteria.
330
00:16:42,298 --> 00:16:43,938
The world that we all live on.
331
00:16:43,938 --> 00:16:48,938
That's the founding
microbiome for that baby.
332
00:16:51,012 --> 00:16:52,212
- [Voiceover] Rodney Dietert,
333
00:16:52,212 --> 00:16:55,872
Professor of Immunotoxicology
from Cornell University
334
00:16:55,872 --> 00:16:58,592
believes that this microscopic
process that happens
335
00:16:58,592 --> 00:17:02,612
during childbirth is
critical for future health.
336
00:17:02,612 --> 00:17:06,032
His hypothesis is called
the completed self.
337
00:17:06,032 --> 00:17:08,752
- The completed self is the
idea that we are intended
338
00:17:08,752 --> 00:17:12,372
to be majority microbial from
the very beginning of life.
339
00:17:12,372 --> 00:17:16,372
At birth, we are supposed
to be 90% microbial.
340
00:17:16,372 --> 00:17:17,992
And that's the way it should be.
341
00:17:17,992 --> 00:17:21,372
That's the way it is when we're healthy.
342
00:17:21,372 --> 00:17:24,172
When the baby comes down the birth canal
343
00:17:24,172 --> 00:17:26,952
during vaginal delivery, that
is the major seeding event
344
00:17:26,952 --> 00:17:29,513
and we know that the gut
microbes in particular
345
00:17:29,513 --> 00:17:31,273
are absolutely crucial in what happens
346
00:17:31,273 --> 00:17:35,783
with immune system, and in
the capacity to break down
347
00:17:35,783 --> 00:17:38,093
different nutrients and different
environmental chemicals.
348
00:17:38,093 --> 00:17:39,993
That's where the action happens.
349
00:17:39,993 --> 00:17:43,553
So, that is probably the
single most important event
350
00:17:43,553 --> 00:17:45,128
that's going to chart
the course for whether
351
00:17:45,128 --> 00:17:47,328
that baby becomes complete,
352
00:17:47,328 --> 00:17:49,588
and whether that baby experiences a life
353
00:17:49,588 --> 00:17:52,908
filled with health or
one filled with disease.
354
00:17:52,908 --> 00:17:55,268
- [Voiceover] The next stage
for the microscopic transfer
355
00:17:55,268 --> 00:17:59,643
of microbes happens during
skin to skin with the mother.
356
00:17:59,643 --> 00:18:03,403
Immediate skin to skin contact
allows for the transfer
357
00:18:03,403 --> 00:18:06,843
of skin bacteria from mother to baby.
358
00:18:06,843 --> 00:18:09,063
And is important for other hormonal
359
00:18:09,063 --> 00:18:11,443
and biological processes.
360
00:18:11,443 --> 00:18:14,463
- When that baby comes
out, the natural habitat
361
00:18:14,463 --> 00:18:16,363
for that baby is the mother's body.
362
00:18:16,363 --> 00:18:18,103
And that baby should go directly
363
00:18:18,103 --> 00:18:19,703
skin to skin with the mother.
364
00:18:19,703 --> 00:18:22,643
When that happens, oxytocin's released
365
00:18:22,643 --> 00:18:24,823
and the cortisol starts to dampen down
366
00:18:24,823 --> 00:18:26,623
that was released during labor.
367
00:18:26,623 --> 00:18:28,703
The baby starts to smell and search for
368
00:18:28,703 --> 00:18:30,723
the mother's breasts.
369
00:18:30,723 --> 00:18:33,403
The skin is to skin is
so amazing, that the mom
370
00:18:33,403 --> 00:18:35,743
will warm up if the baby's cold.
371
00:18:35,743 --> 00:18:37,903
That being on the mom's skin will regulate
372
00:18:37,903 --> 00:18:39,343
the baby's blood sugar.
373
00:18:39,343 --> 00:18:41,323
It regulates the baby's breathing.
374
00:18:41,323 --> 00:18:42,843
It reduces crying.
375
00:18:42,843 --> 00:18:44,563
It reduces stress.
376
00:18:44,563 --> 00:18:48,183
It basically brings
that baby into the world
377
00:18:48,183 --> 00:18:50,003
in the gentlest way possible.
378
00:18:50,003 --> 00:18:55,003
And helps it to adapt to
being outside in the world.
379
00:18:56,683 --> 00:18:59,303
- And it's an absolutely a critical time.
380
00:18:59,303 --> 00:19:01,483
You know, the oxytocin levels are high.
381
00:19:01,483 --> 00:19:05,703
It's the moment when the
mother and the father
382
00:19:05,703 --> 00:19:10,243
will see the eyes of the
baby, and often this kind
383
00:19:10,243 --> 00:19:15,003
of position, the baby
recognizes the human face.
384
00:19:15,003 --> 00:19:17,543
They will never have that moment again.
385
00:19:17,543 --> 00:19:21,483
It's the first stage of falling in love.
386
00:19:21,483 --> 00:19:26,483
And it actually sets a
template for future life.
387
00:19:30,083 --> 00:19:31,823
- [Voiceover] For the
baby to have immediate
388
00:19:31,823 --> 00:19:34,883
skin to skin with the
mother, is the perfect
389
00:19:34,883 --> 00:19:37,573
situation to establish breast feeding,
390
00:19:37,573 --> 00:19:40,753
the next critical step in
terms of the physiological
391
00:19:40,753 --> 00:19:43,233
process of birth.
392
00:19:43,233 --> 00:19:46,153
- When that baby then breastfeeds,
393
00:19:46,153 --> 00:19:48,333
there's a whole other
connection and cascade
394
00:19:48,333 --> 00:19:49,933
of hormones that occurs.
395
00:19:49,933 --> 00:19:52,093
The mother's releasing prolactin.
396
00:19:52,093 --> 00:19:54,693
She's releasing oxytocin.
397
00:19:54,693 --> 00:19:56,173
She's calming down.
398
00:19:56,173 --> 00:19:57,693
She's relaxing.
399
00:19:57,693 --> 00:19:59,473
She's falling in love with her baby.
400
00:19:59,473 --> 00:20:02,413
Her baby's feeling the same for her.
401
00:20:02,413 --> 00:20:05,173
- [Voiceover] Breast milk
is a very complex substance,
402
00:20:05,173 --> 00:20:08,333
exquisitely designed to
provide everything needed
403
00:20:08,333 --> 00:20:10,153
by the baby.
404
00:20:10,153 --> 00:20:12,993
But importantly, breast milk also provides
405
00:20:12,993 --> 00:20:15,613
everything needed by the baby's microbes
406
00:20:15,613 --> 00:20:19,313
that have just been
seeded in the baby's gut.
407
00:20:19,313 --> 00:20:21,193
- In breast milk, you have several things
408
00:20:21,193 --> 00:20:22,173
that the baby needs.
409
00:20:22,173 --> 00:20:25,513
First of all, the mother
provides certain immune
410
00:20:25,513 --> 00:20:27,573
hormone-like substances
that are really important.
411
00:20:27,573 --> 00:20:29,453
Some of those are anti-inflammatory.
412
00:20:29,453 --> 00:20:31,853
And that's going to be
part of the challenge.
413
00:20:31,853 --> 00:20:33,733
The baby needs those.
414
00:20:33,733 --> 00:20:36,593
She provides antibodies as well.
415
00:20:36,593 --> 00:20:40,193
And in addition, she
provides some microbes
416
00:20:40,193 --> 00:20:42,893
from her own breast tissue,
417
00:20:42,893 --> 00:20:44,853
but she also provides sugars,
418
00:20:44,853 --> 00:20:46,553
oligosaccharides they're called.
419
00:20:46,553 --> 00:20:48,393
- [Voiceover] For many
years, scientists were
420
00:20:48,393 --> 00:20:51,033
really puzzled by one
of the main components
421
00:20:51,033 --> 00:20:52,233
of breast milk.
422
00:20:52,233 --> 00:20:56,553
The sugars, the oligosaccharides
were indigestible
423
00:20:56,553 --> 00:20:58,013
by the baby.
424
00:20:58,013 --> 00:21:00,933
So, why were they there?
425
00:21:00,933 --> 00:21:03,553
- It's very, very complex.
426
00:21:03,553 --> 00:21:08,553
But it especially contains
indigestible carbohydrates,
427
00:21:09,368 --> 00:21:11,468
indigestible substrates that the baby will
428
00:21:11,468 --> 00:21:13,968
not be able to digest,
429
00:21:13,968 --> 00:21:16,748
but the good bacteria will.
430
00:21:16,748 --> 00:21:18,783
- [Voiceover] It's only
recently that scientists
431
00:21:18,783 --> 00:21:20,703
have discovered that the sugars were there
432
00:21:20,703 --> 00:21:24,923
to feed the newly seeded
bacteria in the baby's gut.
433
00:21:24,923 --> 00:21:29,923
To feed, to nurture, and to
help them grow in number.
434
00:21:29,988 --> 00:21:34,248
- Breast milk is the best
source for the baby's microbes.
435
00:21:34,248 --> 00:21:36,648
And breast feeding beyond six months
436
00:21:36,648 --> 00:21:40,658
were possible, even up to two years.
437
00:21:40,658 --> 00:21:42,248
A lengthy duration of breast feeding
438
00:21:42,248 --> 00:21:43,708
is really important because breast milk
439
00:21:43,708 --> 00:21:48,708
contains the sugars that
help the baby's microbes
440
00:21:48,728 --> 00:21:50,408
to mature themselves.
441
00:21:50,408 --> 00:21:53,288
They're exquisitely
designed for those microbes,
442
00:21:53,288 --> 00:21:55,468
and they're the best nutrient source.
443
00:21:55,468 --> 00:21:57,748
And so that becomes extremely important.
444
00:21:57,748 --> 00:22:02,748
To nurture a well seeded
microbiome that's in the baby.
445
00:22:04,988 --> 00:22:07,028
- [Voiceover] What happens
if you interrupt this
446
00:22:07,028 --> 00:22:11,988
complex process of feeding
the newly seeded microbiome?
447
00:22:11,988 --> 00:22:15,808
- If we break the natural
rule of breastfeeding,
448
00:22:15,808 --> 00:22:20,808
naturally, we may also
be helping to compromise
449
00:22:22,588 --> 00:22:26,288
the education of the
immune system of the baby.
450
00:22:26,288 --> 00:22:28,488
- [Voiceover] When a baby
is born, it's immune system
451
00:22:28,488 --> 00:22:30,368
is completely naive.
452
00:22:30,368 --> 00:22:33,588
It doesn't what is safe,
and what is dangerous.
453
00:22:33,588 --> 00:22:36,728
So, the baby's developing
immune system has to learn
454
00:22:36,728 --> 00:22:40,188
which bacteria are the good
ones that should be tolerated,
455
00:22:40,188 --> 00:22:43,788
and which bacteria are harmful
that should be attacked.
456
00:22:43,788 --> 00:22:46,028
- It is a fascinating story already,
457
00:22:46,028 --> 00:22:50,268
from what we're learning
about the interaction between
458
00:22:50,268 --> 00:22:53,288
the gut microbod in the
infant as it develops.
459
00:22:53,288 --> 00:22:56,548
And also the development of
the infant immune system.
460
00:22:56,548 --> 00:22:57,608
They're connected.
461
00:22:57,608 --> 00:23:00,688
And so, as the gut microbod is developing
462
00:23:00,688 --> 00:23:03,128
over the first year of life,
so is that immune system.
463
00:23:03,128 --> 00:23:06,388
And the way it is
developing, it's learning
464
00:23:06,388 --> 00:23:10,308
what is friend and what is foe.
465
00:23:10,308 --> 00:23:13,208
You know, what is
beneficial good bacteria,
466
00:23:13,208 --> 00:23:15,728
and what is harmful.
467
00:23:15,728 --> 00:23:18,588
- So, what we have here is
an image of one of the types
468
00:23:18,588 --> 00:23:21,288
of immune cells in our
body called macrophage.
469
00:23:21,288 --> 00:23:25,628
We study the mechanisms of exactly how
470
00:23:25,628 --> 00:23:28,588
other cells in the body are told,
471
00:23:28,588 --> 00:23:31,608
"Hey, we have an infection,
come help us out."
472
00:23:31,608 --> 00:23:34,388
- [Voiceover] The first bacteria to arrive
473
00:23:34,388 --> 00:23:37,521
in the baby's gut kick
starts this process.
474
00:23:37,521 --> 00:23:40,881
They prime the baby's immune system.
475
00:23:40,881 --> 00:23:43,561
Scientists believe that the immune system
476
00:23:43,561 --> 00:23:45,693
has one chance to do this.
477
00:23:45,693 --> 00:23:50,053
One chance for optimal future health.
478
00:23:50,053 --> 00:23:51,593
- This is extremely important,
479
00:23:51,593 --> 00:23:55,673
and if you upset this
process, which is so crucial
480
00:23:55,673 --> 00:24:00,333
in the early life, then we
may have consequences later.
481
00:24:00,333 --> 00:24:02,353
- We need our microbes in place,
482
00:24:02,353 --> 00:24:04,873
at birth or shortly thereafter.
483
00:24:04,873 --> 00:24:06,953
And the reason is, that that's
when the immune training
484
00:24:06,953 --> 00:24:08,273
needs to happen.
485
00:24:08,273 --> 00:24:10,573
You may have an opportunity
to correct the balance
486
00:24:10,573 --> 00:24:14,553
in the microbes by taking
probiotics later in life,
487
00:24:14,553 --> 00:24:15,833
and that's great in a way,
488
00:24:15,833 --> 00:24:18,773
but it doesn't answer the
problem with the immune system.
489
00:24:18,773 --> 00:24:19,773
There's one chance.
490
00:24:19,773 --> 00:24:21,433
There's a narrow window.
491
00:24:21,433 --> 00:24:23,893
If we miss the window, at
that point, then the immune
492
00:24:23,893 --> 00:24:26,113
system never matures correctly.
493
00:24:26,113 --> 00:24:29,153
And that could lead to haphazard responses
494
00:24:29,153 --> 00:24:32,893
and production to disease later in life.
495
00:24:32,893 --> 00:24:35,493
- [Voiceover] If this complex
seeding and feeding process
496
00:24:35,493 --> 00:24:38,573
is interfered with, this
could effect the development
497
00:24:38,573 --> 00:24:41,793
of a child's bacterial ecosystem.
498
00:24:41,793 --> 00:24:44,213
This could effect metabolic processes
499
00:24:44,213 --> 00:24:46,233
and the immune system.
500
00:24:46,233 --> 00:24:49,093
As a result, this could make our children
501
00:24:49,093 --> 00:24:53,053
more susceptible to disease.
502
00:24:53,053 --> 00:24:56,433
Scientists are hypothesizing
this is what could be
503
00:24:56,433 --> 00:25:00,753
happening born by Caesarean section.
504
00:25:00,753 --> 00:25:03,013
Caesarean rates have sky rocketed
505
00:25:03,013 --> 00:25:04,893
in the past few decades.
506
00:25:04,893 --> 00:25:08,293
In the U.K., a quarter of
all babies are now born
507
00:25:08,293 --> 00:25:09,993
by Caesarean section.
508
00:25:09,993 --> 00:25:12,733
In the U.S., it is around a third.
509
00:25:12,733 --> 00:25:14,973
In China, it is about half.
510
00:25:14,973 --> 00:25:17,813
And in some private hospitals in Brazil,
511
00:25:17,813 --> 00:25:22,813
the Caesarean rate is over 90%.
512
00:25:22,813 --> 00:25:26,413
- The rate of Caesarean
section is going up
513
00:25:26,413 --> 00:25:27,393
around the world.
514
00:25:27,393 --> 00:25:29,513
Now, in many instances,
that is a jolly good thing
515
00:25:29,513 --> 00:25:32,113
because Caesarean section
can be life saving.
516
00:25:32,113 --> 00:25:33,873
And there are parts of
the world where women
517
00:25:33,873 --> 00:25:35,993
need Caesarean sections
for their own health,
518
00:25:35,993 --> 00:25:38,033
for the health of their
babies, and they don't
519
00:25:38,033 --> 00:25:39,973
have rapid access to them.
520
00:25:39,973 --> 00:25:42,013
So, we've got a paradoxical situation,
521
00:25:42,013 --> 00:25:43,893
where in some parts of the world,
522
00:25:43,893 --> 00:25:46,813
women who need Caesarean
sections can't get them.
523
00:25:46,813 --> 00:25:48,573
And in other parts of the world,
524
00:25:48,573 --> 00:25:50,833
women who don't need Caesarean sections
525
00:25:50,833 --> 00:25:55,493
are having their deliveries in that way.
526
00:25:55,493 --> 00:25:58,213
- My personal view of why
the Caesarean section rate
527
00:25:58,213 --> 00:26:00,673
has been rising steadily
ever since high qualified,
528
00:26:00,673 --> 00:26:03,353
is that we keep making Caesareans safer.
529
00:26:03,353 --> 00:26:05,853
And because they're safer,
that means the threshold
530
00:26:05,853 --> 00:26:09,193
of risk in labor in which we
would resort to a Caesarean
531
00:26:09,193 --> 00:26:11,333
gets lower and lower, and lower.
532
00:26:11,333 --> 00:26:13,493
And it's not just the
professionals who perceive this.
533
00:26:13,493 --> 00:26:15,613
The women themselves perceive Caesareans
534
00:26:15,613 --> 00:26:18,153
as being relatively safe,
which of course they are.
535
00:26:18,153 --> 00:26:20,553
And hence, they're more likely to request
536
00:26:20,553 --> 00:26:23,453
Caesarean section at a lower
level of risk than they would
537
00:26:23,453 --> 00:26:26,053
have done in 20 or 30 years ago.
538
00:26:26,053 --> 00:26:28,653
- [Voiceover] Caesarean sections
are sometimes essential,
539
00:26:28,653 --> 00:26:30,813
and can be life-saving.
540
00:26:30,813 --> 00:26:33,333
But there are some known
short-term health risks
541
00:26:33,333 --> 00:26:37,913
for the baby associated
with being born in this way.
542
00:26:37,913 --> 00:26:40,716
- Babies born by elective
Caesarean section
543
00:26:40,716 --> 00:26:43,576
who haven't been exposed to
the normal process of labor,
544
00:26:43,576 --> 00:26:46,616
do have more in the way of
short-term health problems.
545
00:26:46,616 --> 00:26:48,436
Perhaps the one that's most well known is
546
00:26:48,436 --> 00:26:50,316
respiratory problems, and
they can be quite unwell
547
00:26:50,316 --> 00:26:52,656
with these respiratory problems,
548
00:26:52,656 --> 00:26:53,936
they can need intensive care.
549
00:26:53,936 --> 00:26:56,636
Obviously the majority
just have mild degrees
550
00:26:56,636 --> 00:26:59,516
of respiratory problems.
551
00:26:59,516 --> 00:27:02,356
These babies also find
it much more difficult
552
00:27:02,356 --> 00:27:04,236
to establish feeding.
553
00:27:04,236 --> 00:27:07,276
They're much more likely to
have low blood sugar levels.
554
00:27:07,276 --> 00:27:10,236
They tend to be sleepier,
a bit more drowsy.
555
00:27:10,236 --> 00:27:12,976
The short-term problems
are well-recognized.
556
00:27:12,976 --> 00:27:16,336
But where our research
is asking new questions
557
00:27:16,336 --> 00:27:19,756
is are there long-term
implications from having been
558
00:27:19,756 --> 00:27:22,636
born by Caesarean section as well?
559
00:27:22,636 --> 00:27:25,556
- Until recently, the main
emphasis with the Caesarean
560
00:27:25,556 --> 00:27:28,516
has been to avoid the
damage of difficult labor
561
00:27:28,516 --> 00:27:29,916
to the mother, and to the baby,
562
00:27:29,916 --> 00:27:31,856
cause the baby can get
short of oxygen during
563
00:27:31,856 --> 00:27:33,256
a difficult labor.
564
00:27:33,256 --> 00:27:34,996
And it's been assumed that if you deliver
565
00:27:34,996 --> 00:27:36,716
the baby in good condition by Caesarean,
566
00:27:36,716 --> 00:27:38,830
that therefore the baby
will do perfectly well
567
00:27:38,830 --> 00:27:40,330
in the long term.
568
00:27:40,330 --> 00:27:42,830
Unfortunately, it turns out
that there is some aspects
569
00:27:42,830 --> 00:27:45,730
of normal natural birth through the vagina
570
00:27:45,730 --> 00:27:48,390
which are missing when you
do a Caesarean section,
571
00:27:48,390 --> 00:27:50,830
and it's turning out that
that may lead to some problems
572
00:27:50,830 --> 00:27:55,330
for the baby in the long term.
573
00:27:55,330 --> 00:27:57,170
- [Voiceover] If a baby
does not pass through the
574
00:27:57,170 --> 00:28:01,770
birth canal, that baby will
bypass the mother's bacteria,
575
00:28:01,770 --> 00:28:04,630
encountering instead, bacteria potentially
576
00:28:04,630 --> 00:28:06,810
from other sources.
577
00:28:06,810 --> 00:28:09,730
Scientists are hypothesizing
this could come with its
578
00:28:09,730 --> 00:28:14,230
own set of problems.
579
00:28:14,230 --> 00:28:17,190
- So, there's several issues
with Caesarean delivery.
580
00:28:17,190 --> 00:28:21,830
First of all, it bypasses the
process where the baby's gut
581
00:28:21,830 --> 00:28:25,310
would be seeded by the
microbes from the mother's gut
582
00:28:25,310 --> 00:28:28,050
and established at birth,
through vaginal delivery.
583
00:28:28,050 --> 00:28:30,750
In addition, the mother
is likely to have been
584
00:28:30,750 --> 00:28:33,230
administered drugs, or
antibiotics that will effect
585
00:28:33,230 --> 00:28:36,570
both her microbes, and
the baby's microbes.
586
00:28:36,570 --> 00:28:39,930
And finally, with Caesarean
section occurring in hospitals,
587
00:28:39,930 --> 00:28:43,610
the baby is going to get
gut microbes from somewhere.
588
00:28:43,610 --> 00:28:45,730
And unfortunately, they may be of the kind
589
00:28:45,730 --> 00:28:48,730
that exist in hospitals, and
are not necessarily healthy
590
00:28:48,730 --> 00:28:51,090
for the baby, such as
Clostridium for example.
591
00:28:51,090 --> 00:28:55,190
- And we think, and this
is still a hypothesis,
592
00:28:55,190 --> 00:28:59,470
that that's part of the
problem, that this generation
593
00:28:59,470 --> 00:29:02,430
of kids have.
594
00:29:02,430 --> 00:29:05,370
There immune system has been primed
595
00:29:05,370 --> 00:29:08,010
by the wrong set of bacteria.
596
00:29:08,010 --> 00:29:10,970
The seeding of the baby's
micobiome could be critical
597
00:29:10,970 --> 00:29:14,130
not just for the gut and the
developing immune system,
598
00:29:14,130 --> 00:29:17,010
but the latest research is
also linking the seeding
599
00:29:17,010 --> 00:29:18,970
of the baby's microbiome
with the development
600
00:29:18,970 --> 00:29:23,970
of other tissues, including the brain.
601
00:29:24,230 --> 00:29:28,010
- The baby's microbes that
are seeded by the mother
602
00:29:28,010 --> 00:29:29,450
into the gut are important,
603
00:29:29,450 --> 00:29:33,010
not just for the gut, but
for most of our tissues.
604
00:29:33,010 --> 00:29:35,430
And one example is, the brain.
605
00:29:35,430 --> 00:29:38,890
Because we now know that
depending upon the seeding,
606
00:29:38,890 --> 00:29:42,310
that occurs, and the diversity
of the microbes in the gut,
607
00:29:42,310 --> 00:29:45,758
that affects the brain
and the nervous tissue.
608
00:29:45,758 --> 00:29:48,972
So, that a number of
neural behavioral disorders
609
00:29:48,972 --> 00:29:52,412
had been linked with the microbes being
610
00:29:52,412 --> 00:29:53,692
not diverse enough.
611
00:29:53,692 --> 00:29:56,212
That the seeding is inadequate.
612
00:29:56,212 --> 00:29:59,332
And as a result, the
byproducts that are produced
613
00:29:59,332 --> 00:30:03,572
from normal nutrients by
that baby affect the brain
614
00:30:03,572 --> 00:30:06,005
in ways that produce
behavioral alterations
615
00:30:06,005 --> 00:30:09,045
that can be a problem.
616
00:30:09,045 --> 00:30:11,365
- The fact that we can get
these long term problems for the
617
00:30:11,365 --> 00:30:14,165
baby doesn't mean that we
should stop doing Caesareans.
618
00:30:14,165 --> 00:30:15,965
They're clearly going to
go on being necessary.
619
00:30:15,965 --> 00:30:18,405
So, the challenge for us
is to find ways of dealing
620
00:30:18,405 --> 00:30:19,885
with this particular problem.
621
00:30:19,885 --> 00:30:21,945
Just like we've improved
the surgical technique.
622
00:30:21,945 --> 00:30:23,285
We've improved the anesthesia.
623
00:30:23,285 --> 00:30:26,205
We now need to improve
how we deal with the baby.
624
00:30:26,205 --> 00:30:29,465
So, that it overcomes
this particular problem.
625
00:30:29,465 --> 00:30:33,046
- If a mother must have a
C-section, then there are things
626
00:30:33,046 --> 00:30:34,186
that she can still do.
627
00:30:34,186 --> 00:30:35,986
That can be really helpful for the baby.
628
00:30:35,986 --> 00:30:39,606
So, it's very important to have
immediate skin-skin contact
629
00:30:39,606 --> 00:30:41,566
when that's possible.
630
00:30:41,566 --> 00:30:44,577
Breast feeding of a significant duration,
631
00:30:44,577 --> 00:30:47,277
six months or more, is really important.
632
00:30:47,277 --> 00:30:50,577
Again, to nurture the
microbes in the baby's gut.
633
00:30:50,577 --> 00:30:55,577
In addition, there is an
idea of using vaginal swabs,
634
00:30:55,657 --> 00:30:59,177
and how that may be important
in attempting to seed
635
00:30:59,177 --> 00:31:00,977
what the baby would have
gotten had the baby had
636
00:31:00,977 --> 00:31:02,817
vaginal delivery.
637
00:31:02,817 --> 00:31:05,077
- [Voiceover] Dr. Maria
Gloria Dominguez Bello
638
00:31:05,077 --> 00:31:08,777
is leading a pioneering study
across multiple countries,
639
00:31:08,777 --> 00:31:12,357
where babies born by Caesarean
section are inoculated
640
00:31:12,357 --> 00:31:15,577
with bacteria from their
mother's birth canal.
641
00:31:15,577 --> 00:31:18,857
- So, what we do is we take a gauze,
642
00:31:18,857 --> 00:31:22,537
eight centimeters by eight centimeters,
643
00:31:22,537 --> 00:31:26,215
we wet it with a sterile saline solution,
644
00:31:26,215 --> 00:31:30,857
we fold it, and we make
like a tampon with a slot of
645
00:31:30,857 --> 00:31:35,797
surface exposed, we fold it as a fan,
646
00:31:35,797 --> 00:31:38,157
and we incubate it in mom's vagina
647
00:31:38,157 --> 00:31:40,617
during the last hour before the procedure,
648
00:31:40,617 --> 00:31:42,557
before the C-section.
649
00:31:42,557 --> 00:31:47,497
And the surgeon takes
the gauze out just before
650
00:31:47,497 --> 00:31:51,457
the procedure which
lasts, it's really fast.
651
00:31:51,457 --> 00:31:54,157
It lasts between 15 and 20 minutes.
652
00:31:54,157 --> 00:31:58,417
So, the gauze is put
into a sterile container
653
00:31:58,417 --> 00:32:01,703
while the surgeon does the procedure,
654
00:32:01,703 --> 00:32:05,137
and when the baby's born,
the first thing the baby
655
00:32:05,137 --> 00:32:07,237
will see immediately is that gauze.
656
00:32:07,237 --> 00:32:09,600
We pass it through the mouth first,
657
00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:11,940
then the face, and then
the rest of the body.
658
00:32:11,940 --> 00:32:14,040
So, we are currently doing the study.
659
00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:15,420
It's a big study.
660
00:32:15,420 --> 00:32:17,980
The full results will not be ready
661
00:32:17,980 --> 00:32:20,280
before two or three years.
662
00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:23,560
But we have decided to
take the first babies
663
00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:27,320
and publish a month of their progression,
664
00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,960
of their bacterial communities.
665
00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:35,960
And what we can tell so far,
is that the baby's inoculated,
666
00:32:36,862 --> 00:32:39,182
although they were born by
C-section, they look more
667
00:32:39,182 --> 00:32:42,742
similar to vaginal delivered
babies than to C-section
668
00:32:42,742 --> 00:32:47,742
delivered babies.
669
00:32:48,902 --> 00:32:52,085
- Swabbing newborn babies could
help introduce the mother's
670
00:32:52,085 --> 00:32:55,505
bacteria to babies born by Casesarian,
671
00:32:55,505 --> 00:32:57,925
but there doesn't appear
to be a substitute
672
00:32:57,925 --> 00:33:01,425
for the complex interplay
of hormones and stresses of
673
00:33:01,425 --> 00:33:03,735
natural child birth that could be
674
00:33:03,735 --> 00:33:06,670
critical for future health.
675
00:33:06,670 --> 00:33:09,330
- The single most important
thing we can do for a
676
00:33:09,330 --> 00:33:11,550
healthy baby across a
life course, is to ensure
677
00:33:11,550 --> 00:33:16,050
that microbial seeding
occurs completely at birth
678
00:33:16,050 --> 00:33:18,630
through vaginal delivery when possible,
679
00:33:18,630 --> 00:33:22,190
the skin-skin contacts
occurs, and that the microbes
680
00:33:22,190 --> 00:33:23,930
are supported through breast feeding of
681
00:33:23,930 --> 00:33:25,850
significant duration.
682
00:33:25,850 --> 00:33:27,390
This should be on every birth plan.
683
00:33:27,390 --> 00:33:29,410
Every health professional,
every medical professional
684
00:33:29,410 --> 00:33:33,290
attending to the pregnant
woman, to the birth process,
685
00:33:33,290 --> 00:33:35,650
through infancy should
be aware of these things,
686
00:33:35,650 --> 00:33:38,530
should be aware of the
importance of the microbiome
687
00:33:38,530 --> 00:33:40,170
and supporting a healthy microbiome
688
00:33:40,170 --> 00:33:43,070
because that's what's going
to influence the health
689
00:33:43,070 --> 00:33:45,910
across a lifespan versus
one filled with disease
690
00:33:45,910 --> 00:33:48,932
for that child.
691
00:33:48,932 --> 00:33:51,272
- [Voiceover] Science has shown
that bacterial populations
692
00:33:51,272 --> 00:33:54,872
in the gut are passed on
from generation to generation
693
00:33:54,872 --> 00:33:56,992
during vaginal birth.
694
00:33:56,992 --> 00:33:59,892
So, a grandmother has
similar bacterial species
695
00:33:59,892 --> 00:34:03,612
in her gut as her daughter,
and even her granddaughter,
696
00:34:03,612 --> 00:34:05,652
if they all have vaginal births.
697
00:34:05,652 --> 00:34:09,032
And so bacterial transfer
can be viewed as a kind of
698
00:34:09,032 --> 00:34:12,592
maternal heritage that is
passed on from generation
699
00:34:12,592 --> 00:34:17,172
to generation, from grandmother
to mother to daughter.
700
00:34:17,172 --> 00:34:20,432
But what happens if one
generation gives birth by
701
00:34:20,432 --> 00:34:22,472
Caesarean section?
702
00:34:22,472 --> 00:34:26,612
This could be breaking the
chain of maternal heritage.
703
00:34:26,612 --> 00:34:29,312
Could we be producing a
generation of children
704
00:34:29,312 --> 00:34:32,472
who are missing vital bacteria?
705
00:34:32,472 --> 00:34:34,932
And could that be passed down and down
706
00:34:34,932 --> 00:34:38,252
for all future generations?
707
00:34:38,252 --> 00:34:42,702
What is not known is what the
consequences of this might be
708
00:34:42,702 --> 00:34:45,612
for humanity.
709
00:34:45,612 --> 00:34:48,052
There's other transgenerational processes
710
00:34:48,052 --> 00:34:51,192
possibly happening during
childbirth that could also
711
00:34:51,192 --> 00:34:54,552
have ramifications for our species.
712
00:34:54,552 --> 00:34:58,832
This is the emerging field
of epigenetics in childbirth.
713
00:34:58,832 --> 00:35:03,012
Epigenetics very, very
simply are heritable changes
714
00:35:03,012 --> 00:35:06,452
in gene expression that
are independent of the
715
00:35:06,452 --> 00:35:08,832
underlying DNA.
716
00:35:08,832 --> 00:35:11,732
So, while your DNA is
what you inherit from your
717
00:35:11,732 --> 00:35:15,312
mom and your dad, there
are parts of your gene
718
00:35:15,312 --> 00:35:17,072
that switch on and switch off.
719
00:35:17,072 --> 00:35:18,732
So, epigenetics is above the gene.
720
00:35:18,732 --> 00:35:21,032
And epigenetics is simply
saying that there are
721
00:35:21,032 --> 00:35:24,212
changes made that silence
parts of your genes
722
00:35:24,212 --> 00:35:28,592
that can then be passed on
into the next generation.
723
00:35:28,592 --> 00:35:31,272
- And what we know happens
at birth is that there
724
00:35:31,272 --> 00:35:34,232
is a whole series of genes
that you need to be switched on
725
00:35:34,232 --> 00:35:38,332
in order to survive post birth.
726
00:35:38,332 --> 00:35:40,132
And there are genes that
you've had switched on
727
00:35:40,132 --> 00:35:41,772
before birth that you need
actually need to switch off.
728
00:35:41,772 --> 00:35:44,132
You no longer them throughout life.
729
00:35:44,132 --> 00:35:48,532
And birth appears to be the point that you
730
00:35:48,532 --> 00:35:50,952
switch genes on or switch them off.
731
00:35:50,952 --> 00:35:53,312
- A very, very long period
of evolution has brought us
732
00:35:53,312 --> 00:35:56,012
to the point that we are today.
733
00:35:56,012 --> 00:36:00,712
It's highly plausible that
normal labor, normal delivery
734
00:36:00,712 --> 00:36:02,532
is in someway a programming event.
735
00:36:02,532 --> 00:36:06,812
And by that, I mean that it
turns on genes that affect
736
00:36:06,812 --> 00:36:08,965
certain health trajectories.
737
00:36:08,965 --> 00:36:13,705
- Anything from things occurring
in the actual environment
738
00:36:13,705 --> 00:36:17,745
of the mother giving birth to
interventions that can occur
739
00:36:17,745 --> 00:36:21,565
during the birth process
like giving antibiotics,
740
00:36:21,565 --> 00:36:24,705
inducing labor, providing
the mother with pitocin,
741
00:36:24,705 --> 00:36:26,565
C-section delivery,
742
00:36:26,565 --> 00:36:28,945
forceps delivery, and
things of that nature.
743
00:36:28,945 --> 00:36:33,245
All of these interventions
we believe may have an
744
00:36:33,245 --> 00:36:36,812
implication or may cause
changes in the epigenome
745
00:36:36,812 --> 00:36:40,082
that can have later
impacts on health outcomes.
746
00:36:40,082 --> 00:36:41,942
- [Voiceover] The actual
process of labor as well
747
00:36:41,942 --> 00:36:45,602
as vaginal birth could be
critical for long term health.
748
00:36:45,602 --> 00:36:47,642
It could be that the
stress of labor is actually
749
00:36:47,642 --> 00:36:49,982
good for the baby.
750
00:36:49,982 --> 00:36:52,942
It could help prime the
immune system epigenetically
751
00:36:52,942 --> 00:36:56,922
via a complex process
involving hormones and also
752
00:36:56,922 --> 00:37:00,122
have a long term effect on metabolism.
753
00:37:00,122 --> 00:37:03,282
- [Voiceover] What evidence do you have?
754
00:37:03,282 --> 00:37:07,502
- So, at the moment we
don't have a lot of evidence
755
00:37:07,502 --> 00:37:10,042
that there are epigenetic
changes during pregnancy
756
00:37:10,042 --> 00:37:11,142
and birth.
757
00:37:11,142 --> 00:37:14,922
We got good epidemiological
evidence showing that there
758
00:37:14,922 --> 00:37:19,102
are links between ways
babies are born and disorders
759
00:37:19,102 --> 00:37:20,182
later in life.
760
00:37:20,182 --> 00:37:21,842
But there are a couple of
studies that have come out
761
00:37:21,842 --> 00:37:25,482
showing that there are
mutilations or changes seen
762
00:37:25,482 --> 00:37:28,222
genetically with Caesarean section.
763
00:37:28,222 --> 00:37:30,822
There are also studies
showing that antibiotic use,
764
00:37:30,822 --> 00:37:33,562
even antibiotic use
during labor has been able
765
00:37:33,562 --> 00:37:36,582
to show some evidence of mutilation.
766
00:37:36,582 --> 00:37:38,722
So, we've got some evidence.
767
00:37:38,722 --> 00:37:40,802
But because we've skipped this whole area,
768
00:37:40,802 --> 00:37:43,272
nobody's been looking,
and so we're now saying
769
00:37:43,272 --> 00:37:46,152
turn the microscope on birth,
it's a really important
770
00:37:46,152 --> 00:37:49,492
part of a human being's
life, and therefore probably
771
00:37:49,492 --> 00:37:53,752
has much greater impact
genetically than we ever thought.
772
00:37:53,752 --> 00:37:56,052
- [Voiceover] Also have been
few large scale university
773
00:37:56,052 --> 00:37:58,712
research studies about
the long term effects of
774
00:37:58,712 --> 00:38:01,512
Caesarean sections, the same can be said
775
00:38:01,512 --> 00:38:04,272
about another commonly used intervention.
776
00:38:04,272 --> 00:38:09,272
The use of synthetic oxytocin
to induce or speed up labor.
777
00:38:11,232 --> 00:38:15,352
- I have spent the last
33 years trying to answer
778
00:38:15,352 --> 00:38:16,992
the question you have asked me:
779
00:38:16,992 --> 00:38:20,132
what are the long term
consequences of pitocin
780
00:38:20,132 --> 00:38:22,552
or syntocinon?
781
00:38:22,552 --> 00:38:27,272
And I would say we still don't know.
782
00:38:27,272 --> 00:38:32,272
The only way we could find out
would be to do an experiment.
783
00:38:32,572 --> 00:38:34,392
And I don't think anyone really
784
00:38:34,392 --> 00:38:36,692
wants to be in that experiment.
785
00:38:36,692 --> 00:38:40,872
But because the procedures that are used
786
00:38:40,872 --> 00:38:45,872
to facilitate birth, the
use of pitocin, syntocinon,
787
00:38:48,232 --> 00:38:50,332
oxytocin, all the same thing,
788
00:38:50,332 --> 00:38:53,192
has increased so much,
we're now at the point,
789
00:38:53,192 --> 00:38:56,872
where there's almost nobody left to study
790
00:38:56,872 --> 00:38:59,692
that hasn't been exposed to
it in some way or another.
791
00:38:59,692 --> 00:39:02,161
- Animal studies are
indicating that exposure to
792
00:39:02,161 --> 00:39:05,461
synthetic oxytocin
around the time of birth
793
00:39:05,461 --> 00:39:08,981
can have detrimental outcomes.
794
00:39:08,981 --> 00:39:13,981
But we can't study the same
kind of mechanisms in humans.
795
00:39:15,041 --> 00:39:17,701
So, while we have our
correlational studies,
796
00:39:17,701 --> 00:39:22,701
but we certainly need large
population based studies
797
00:39:22,761 --> 00:39:26,241
where we can look at associations between
798
00:39:26,241 --> 00:39:29,721
birth exposures and long term outcomes.
799
00:39:29,721 --> 00:39:31,821
- [Voiceover] With the
potential transgenerational
800
00:39:31,821 --> 00:39:34,701
effects of epigenetics,
long term effects that can
801
00:39:34,701 --> 00:39:38,066
be seen for up to and
even beyond 100 years
802
00:39:38,066 --> 00:39:40,726
in the future, we could be altering
803
00:39:40,726 --> 00:39:43,766
genetic components of future generations
804
00:39:43,766 --> 00:39:47,606
right now without even realizing.
805
00:39:47,606 --> 00:39:52,606
- We're interfering and
altering so many biological
806
00:39:52,906 --> 00:39:55,066
processes during labor and child birth.
807
00:39:55,066 --> 00:40:00,066
We don't have a clue as
to what kind of long term
808
00:40:00,626 --> 00:40:04,906
heritable, intergenerational
changes can take place.
809
00:40:04,906 --> 00:40:08,546
It's irresponsible to be
biological manipulating
810
00:40:08,546 --> 00:40:12,206
this emerging system in the baby.
811
00:40:12,206 --> 00:40:17,206
This sensitive transitional
system in the mother,
812
00:40:18,426 --> 00:40:20,646
and not know the consequences.
813
00:40:20,646 --> 00:40:23,806
- You know, people who work
in epigenetics will tell you
814
00:40:23,806 --> 00:40:25,606
you are what your grandmother ate.
815
00:40:25,606 --> 00:40:28,306
This can go on to several generations.
816
00:40:28,306 --> 00:40:30,546
So, we need to start the research now,
817
00:40:30,546 --> 00:40:32,546
so that we haven't waited
several generations
818
00:40:32,546 --> 00:40:34,246
before we've got really
good answers to things
819
00:40:34,246 --> 00:40:37,466
that we can correct today.
820
00:40:37,466 --> 00:40:39,566
- [Voiceover] Whatever the actual cause,
821
00:40:39,566 --> 00:40:42,726
whether it is epigenetics,
or alterations to the baby's
822
00:40:42,726 --> 00:40:46,486
microbiome, a mixture
of the two, or possibly
823
00:40:46,486 --> 00:40:50,206
another reason altogether, it
appears something is happening
824
00:40:50,206 --> 00:40:53,226
with Caesarean section
that is being linked to
825
00:40:53,226 --> 00:40:57,046
increased risk of disease later in life.
826
00:40:57,046 --> 00:40:59,946
- Epidemiologically the data
is quite strong, it's linked
827
00:40:59,946 --> 00:41:02,166
to Caesarean section long term outcomes.
828
00:41:02,166 --> 00:41:04,706
Large population studies
have shown that asthma
829
00:41:04,706 --> 00:41:07,706
has increased, about a 20%
increase risk of asthma.
830
00:41:07,706 --> 00:41:10,326
If you're born by Caesarean
section childhood,
831
00:41:10,326 --> 00:41:12,366
compared to if you're
born by vaginal delivery,
832
00:41:12,366 --> 00:41:15,526
about a 20% increase in the
risk of Type 1 diabetes.
833
00:41:15,526 --> 00:41:18,366
Smaller increases in
gastrointestinal problems,
834
00:41:18,366 --> 00:41:21,886
so gout, related
conditions, Crohn's disease,
835
00:41:21,886 --> 00:41:24,076
coeliac disease.
836
00:41:24,076 --> 00:41:26,456
All of those conditions cause
a link to the immune system,
837
00:41:26,456 --> 00:41:28,176
which is a common theme with them.
838
00:41:28,176 --> 00:41:33,176
Obesity, we see a similar
kind of increase in the risk
839
00:41:33,276 --> 00:41:34,876
of obesity.
840
00:41:34,876 --> 00:41:36,916
- [Voiceover] Scientists
at Imperial College, London
841
00:41:36,916 --> 00:41:38,956
have recently conducted
a study into the link
842
00:41:38,956 --> 00:41:41,896
between Casesarean section
and increased risk of
843
00:41:41,896 --> 00:41:44,756
obesity later in life.
844
00:41:44,756 --> 00:41:49,756
- We've just completed and
published a very large systematic
845
00:41:49,796 --> 00:41:51,236
review and meta analysis.
846
00:41:51,236 --> 00:41:53,176
In other words, we put
together all of the published
847
00:41:53,176 --> 00:41:55,716
world literature which
examined the relationship
848
00:41:55,716 --> 00:41:59,396
between obesity and overweight,
and mode of delivery.
849
00:41:59,396 --> 00:42:02,196
- So we took a data from
over a 100,000 people,
850
00:42:02,196 --> 00:42:04,656
from adults born from around the world,
851
00:42:04,656 --> 00:42:07,836
born by the Caesarean
section or vaginal delivery.
852
00:42:07,836 --> 00:42:10,196
And we showed that if you
were born by Caesarean
853
00:42:10,196 --> 00:42:12,556
section, on average you
had half a unit BMI greater
854
00:42:12,556 --> 00:42:17,196
than if you were born by vaginal delivery.
855
00:42:17,196 --> 00:42:21,128
Half a unit increase BMI in an
individual means very little.
856
00:42:21,128 --> 00:42:23,528
I could gain that and lost that in a week,
857
00:42:23,528 --> 00:42:26,628
and wouldn't notice any
difference in health impact.
858
00:42:26,628 --> 00:42:29,528
But across the population,
half a unit BMI increase
859
00:42:29,528 --> 00:42:33,568
is a massive public health risk.
860
00:42:33,568 --> 00:42:36,148
You see a very large increase in strokes,
861
00:42:36,148 --> 00:42:40,468
in cardiovascular disease,
early mortality, etcetera,
862
00:42:40,468 --> 00:42:44,428
all through half a unit BMI increase.
863
00:42:44,428 --> 00:42:46,966
- [Voiceover] As scientists
are very keen to point out,
864
00:42:46,966 --> 00:42:51,966
an association is not
the same thing as cause.
865
00:42:53,366 --> 00:42:56,006
- We don't know whether
or not being born by
866
00:42:56,006 --> 00:43:00,266
Caesarean section causes
certain health problems,
867
00:43:00,266 --> 00:43:02,346
causes you to be overweight or obese.
868
00:43:02,346 --> 00:43:05,626
We know there's an association,
and I have to emphasize
869
00:43:05,626 --> 00:43:08,806
a phrase in science that is
really, really important,
870
00:43:08,806 --> 00:43:12,746
which is that association that
does not mean as causation.
871
00:43:12,746 --> 00:43:17,746
So, for example, you might
find that the increased
872
00:43:17,841 --> 00:43:21,241
risk in being overweight
or obese, if you're born
873
00:43:21,241 --> 00:43:24,581
by Caesarean section is
actually because your mom
874
00:43:24,581 --> 00:43:28,521
was overweight, and the risk
isn't anything to do with
875
00:43:28,521 --> 00:43:32,201
how you were born, but
it's to do with the genes
876
00:43:32,201 --> 00:43:34,141
that you inherited, or it
might be due to the environment
877
00:43:34,141 --> 00:43:36,021
in which you were brought up.
878
00:43:36,021 --> 00:43:39,490
So, you can see that we
have to be really careful
879
00:43:39,490 --> 00:43:42,270
about whether or not
actual mode of delivery
880
00:43:42,270 --> 00:43:43,790
causes these problems.
881
00:43:43,790 --> 00:43:46,390
But it's clearly a very,
very important problem.
882
00:43:46,390 --> 00:43:50,460
Because if it is causal,
if Caesarean section
883
00:43:50,460 --> 00:43:52,910
does cause health problems,
rather than just being
884
00:43:52,910 --> 00:43:55,570
associated with them, then we potentially
885
00:43:55,570 --> 00:43:59,830
have a very big problem on our hands.
886
00:43:59,830 --> 00:44:01,930
- Over the last 20 to 30
years, we've seen dramatic
887
00:44:01,930 --> 00:44:06,930
increases in childhood asthma,
Type 1 diabetes, celiac,
888
00:44:06,950 --> 00:44:08,790
childhood obesity.
889
00:44:08,790 --> 00:44:12,190
And we've also had increases
in Caesarean delivery.
890
00:44:12,190 --> 00:44:14,970
Does Caesarean cause these conditions?
891
00:44:14,970 --> 00:44:16,050
No.
892
00:44:16,050 --> 00:44:20,330
What Caesarean is to not
allow the baby to be seeded
893
00:44:20,330 --> 00:44:21,890
with the microbes.
894
00:44:21,890 --> 00:44:23,630
The immune system doesn't mature and the
895
00:44:23,630 --> 00:44:25,330
metabolism changes.
896
00:44:25,330 --> 00:44:30,330
It's the immune dysfunction
and the changes in metabolism
897
00:44:30,890 --> 00:44:32,461
that we now know contribute
898
00:44:32,461 --> 00:44:34,601
to those diseases and conditions.
899
00:44:34,601 --> 00:44:36,481
- [Voiceover] The story
of later life disease
900
00:44:36,481 --> 00:44:41,001
associated with Caesarean
section doesn't stop there.
901
00:44:41,001 --> 00:44:44,841
- With Caesarean delivery,
the problem is those children
902
00:44:44,841 --> 00:44:48,281
are an elevated risk of
asthma, Type 1 diabetes,
903
00:44:48,281 --> 00:44:50,741
celiac disease, and obesity.
904
00:44:50,741 --> 00:44:53,101
But that's just the tip of the iceberg.
905
00:44:53,101 --> 00:44:55,921
One of the things that happens
with Caesarean delivery,
906
00:44:55,921 --> 00:44:58,241
increasing the risk of
these childhood diseases
907
00:44:58,241 --> 00:45:01,521
such as asthma, coeliac
disease, and Type 1 diabetes
908
00:45:01,521 --> 00:45:05,481
is that the other diseases
where there's elevated risk
909
00:45:05,481 --> 00:45:07,221
may occur later in life.
910
00:45:07,221 --> 00:45:10,361
That the children are essentially
programmed as a result
911
00:45:10,361 --> 00:45:13,701
of these early environmental
conditions for the appearance
912
00:45:13,701 --> 00:45:17,341
of subsequent chronic diseases.
913
00:45:17,341 --> 00:45:21,721
We know that non-communicable
diseases are interlinked.
914
00:45:21,721 --> 00:45:25,001
That if you have one, particularly
as a child, your chances
915
00:45:25,001 --> 00:45:29,161
of having another and
maybe a third later in life
916
00:45:29,161 --> 00:45:31,281
are very much increased.
917
00:45:31,281 --> 00:45:34,181
So, for example, a child
diagnosed with asthma,
918
00:45:34,181 --> 00:45:37,741
it's not just asthma that
we need to worry about,
919
00:45:37,741 --> 00:45:41,401
because that child has a
greater risk of being obese,
920
00:45:41,401 --> 00:45:43,661
of having behavioral
issues, and eventually
921
00:45:43,661 --> 00:45:46,301
developing lung cancer
than children who don't
922
00:45:46,301 --> 00:45:47,661
have asthma.
923
00:45:47,661 --> 00:45:50,201
The same thing happens for
children with Type 1 diabetes
924
00:45:50,201 --> 00:45:53,041
and very specific
non-communicable diseases.
925
00:45:53,041 --> 00:45:55,381
In that case, many of them
are autoimmune diseases.
926
00:45:55,381 --> 00:45:57,997
The same thing for children
with coeliac disease,
927
00:45:57,997 --> 00:46:00,057
which is increasing at prevalence.
928
00:46:00,057 --> 00:46:02,657
So, that it's not just the
first disease that's encountered
929
00:46:02,657 --> 00:46:06,997
in childhood because of
low microbial diversity,
930
00:46:06,997 --> 00:46:09,817
but it's the progression
of potentially multiple
931
00:46:09,817 --> 00:46:12,557
chronic diseases or
non-communicable diseases,
932
00:46:12,557 --> 00:46:16,597
each one requiring a
heavy medical intervention
933
00:46:16,597 --> 00:46:20,257
and drug therapies.
934
00:46:20,257 --> 00:46:22,337
- [Voiceover] This emerging
science all seems to be
935
00:46:22,337 --> 00:46:24,937
pointing in one clear direction.
936
00:46:24,937 --> 00:46:27,637
That there is a link
between Caesarean section
937
00:46:27,637 --> 00:46:30,077
and increased risk of
our children developing
938
00:46:30,077 --> 00:46:34,317
not just one, but multiple
non-communicable diseases.
939
00:46:34,317 --> 00:46:37,817
If we continue on the same
path, it is conceivable
940
00:46:37,817 --> 00:46:41,797
that our actions could actually
be accelerating us towards
941
00:46:41,797 --> 00:46:44,357
the disaster scenario predicted by the
942
00:46:44,357 --> 00:46:48,437
World Economic Forum and
Harvard School of Public Health,
943
00:46:48,437 --> 00:46:51,617
the bankruptcy of our
global healthcare systems.
944
00:46:51,617 --> 00:46:54,097
- You could also actually
begin to think about
945
00:46:54,097 --> 00:46:56,857
non-communicable diseases
as a deeper threat
946
00:46:56,857 --> 00:46:58,257
to national security.
947
00:46:58,257 --> 00:47:02,978
If we don't find ways for
managing these diseases better,
948
00:47:02,978 --> 00:47:06,958
if we can't come up with
cheap, or cost effective ways
949
00:47:06,958 --> 00:47:09,978
to address them, we're going to be landed
950
00:47:09,978 --> 00:47:13,358
with quite a big socioeconomic problem
951
00:47:13,358 --> 00:47:16,878
that could be destabilizing
in the worst case scenario.
952
00:47:16,878 --> 00:47:19,198
And so I think that's
why also we need to raise
953
00:47:19,198 --> 00:47:20,878
more awareness around
non-communicable diseases
954
00:47:20,878 --> 00:47:24,078
and get more coordinated action on this.
955
00:47:24,078 --> 00:47:26,018
- [Voiceover] Non-communicable
disease is now
956
00:47:26,018 --> 00:47:29,538
being recognized by world
leaders as a serious global
957
00:47:29,538 --> 00:47:30,978
health threat.
958
00:47:30,978 --> 00:47:33,138
Action plans are being devised.
959
00:47:33,138 --> 00:47:36,778
But what appears to be completely
missing from their agenda
960
00:47:36,778 --> 00:47:39,878
is the link between how we
give birth and increased
961
00:47:39,878 --> 00:47:42,558
risk of our children developing multiple
962
00:47:42,558 --> 00:47:46,058
immune-related diseases later in life.
963
00:47:46,058 --> 00:47:47,898
- Well, one thing is for sure.
964
00:47:47,898 --> 00:47:52,898
Is that if you take information
to very, very busy world
965
00:47:53,278 --> 00:47:57,438
leaders that is not the
subject that is actually being
966
00:47:57,438 --> 00:48:01,969
debated, you stand very little
or no chance of being heard.
967
00:48:01,969 --> 00:48:06,309
So, it's crucial to take
a subject that they're
968
00:48:06,309 --> 00:48:11,309
all working on first,
and then say in order
969
00:48:12,649 --> 00:48:15,589
for you to achieve the goals that we have
970
00:48:15,589 --> 00:48:20,509
all agreed to, you need to know this.
971
00:48:20,509 --> 00:48:22,389
- [Voiceover] Are we too late?
972
00:48:22,389 --> 00:48:23,469
- I don't think we're too late.
973
00:48:23,469 --> 00:48:25,229
But we're definitely not too early either.
974
00:48:25,229 --> 00:48:26,949
This is a really big challenge.
975
00:48:26,949 --> 00:48:29,009
It's something we have
to confront urgently.
976
00:48:29,009 --> 00:48:30,809
We have to change our thinking.
977
00:48:30,809 --> 00:48:33,029
We're gonna have to get our
brightest minds on this.
978
00:48:33,029 --> 00:48:35,849
We're gonna have to get
coordinated at action
979
00:48:35,849 --> 00:48:38,769
both within countries but
also between countries.
980
00:48:38,769 --> 00:48:40,869
And I think this is what
we're all going to have to
981
00:48:40,869 --> 00:48:45,289
pitch in together for
the benefit of humanity.
982
00:48:45,289 --> 00:48:48,369
Looking into the future, if
antibiotics are no longer
983
00:48:48,369 --> 00:48:51,257
effective because of
antibiotic resistance, and if
984
00:48:51,257 --> 00:48:53,977
we are unwittingly producing a generation
985
00:48:53,977 --> 00:48:56,837
of children with
compromised immune systems,
986
00:48:56,837 --> 00:48:58,857
we could be sending our children out into
987
00:48:58,857 --> 00:49:02,517
a world of disease with
their shields down.
988
00:49:02,517 --> 00:49:05,157
You can imagine the
situation that if we continue
989
00:49:05,157 --> 00:49:08,637
reducing our bacterial
diversity, our children
990
00:49:08,637 --> 00:49:11,737
could become more susceptible
to infectious disease,
991
00:49:11,737 --> 00:49:13,437
including pandemics.
992
00:49:13,437 --> 00:49:17,837
- Well, the worst case scenario
is in fact really terrible.
993
00:49:17,837 --> 00:49:22,837
And that is that we know
that the good microbes
994
00:49:23,197 --> 00:49:26,537
of our body help protect us
against the bad microbes.
995
00:49:26,537 --> 00:49:30,237
And so the risk, is that of
our microbes get too depleted,
996
00:49:30,237 --> 00:49:33,677
then we will become quite
susceptible to an invader,
997
00:49:33,677 --> 00:49:36,597
a pathogen that arises
somewhere, and that could
998
00:49:36,597 --> 00:49:39,437
spread through our communities
all over the world,
999
00:49:39,437 --> 00:49:42,057
and cause a terrible plague or a pandemic.
1000
00:49:42,057 --> 00:49:44,537
Pandemics have occurred in the past,
1001
00:49:44,537 --> 00:49:46,797
and we're vulnerable to pandemics.
1002
00:49:46,797 --> 00:49:48,737
There are many more of us.
1003
00:49:48,737 --> 00:49:50,457
We live closer together.
1004
00:49:50,457 --> 00:49:53,717
Because of jet planes and
other forms of travel,
1005
00:49:53,717 --> 00:49:56,057
we're no more than two
days away from any village
1006
00:49:56,057 --> 00:49:57,197
in the world.
1007
00:49:57,197 --> 00:50:00,197
So, we have a very large
interconnected community.
1008
00:50:00,197 --> 00:50:03,217
And that makes us more
susceptible to pathogens.
1009
00:50:03,217 --> 00:50:05,817
And now, if our coastal
defenses are weakening,
1010
00:50:05,817 --> 00:50:09,797
if we don't have the diversity,
then we're more susceptible.
1011
00:50:09,797 --> 00:50:13,477
That's a scenario that I've
called antibiotic winter,
1012
00:50:13,477 --> 00:50:17,707
which is very bleak, because
it could really cause
1013
00:50:17,707 --> 00:50:19,622
untold numbers of death.
1014
00:50:19,622 --> 00:50:22,824
Now, if this happened
tomorrow, it's too late.
1015
00:50:22,824 --> 00:50:24,424
There's not that much
we could do about it.
1016
00:50:24,424 --> 00:50:26,704
But if it were going to
happen 50 years from now,
1017
00:50:26,704 --> 00:50:29,344
then we could find ways
to protect against it
1018
00:50:29,344 --> 00:50:31,644
and to restore our diversity.
1019
00:50:31,644 --> 00:50:34,184
And that's what we have to do.
1020
00:50:34,184 --> 00:50:36,284
- [Voiceover] Could we
now be doing to ourselves
1021
00:50:36,284 --> 00:50:40,764
what we have already
started doing to the planet?
1022
00:50:40,764 --> 00:50:44,184
Human kind's impact on
our inner ecosystem seems
1023
00:50:44,184 --> 00:50:47,944
to be mirroring the
influence we are exerting
1024
00:50:47,944 --> 00:50:50,524
on our global macro ecosystem.
1025
00:50:50,524 --> 00:50:53,764
We're disturbing the balance.
1026
00:50:53,764 --> 00:50:58,144
- Our westernized lifestyle
and our technology,
1027
00:50:58,144 --> 00:51:01,904
which has given us so many good things,
1028
00:51:01,904 --> 00:51:04,844
have also collateral damage.
1029
00:51:04,844 --> 00:51:08,004
And we have to understand
what is the impact
1030
00:51:08,004 --> 00:51:10,984
and try to correct before it's too late.
1031
00:51:10,984 --> 00:51:15,044
Both at the level of the
planet, of our environment,
1032
00:51:15,044 --> 00:51:19,644
of our macro ecoystems,
and of our own microbial
1033
00:51:19,644 --> 00:51:23,404
ecoystems that live with us.
1034
00:51:23,404 --> 00:51:25,444
- [Voiceover] Over a
quarter of a century ago,
1035
00:51:25,444 --> 00:51:29,304
scientists warned mankind
was causing damage
1036
00:51:29,304 --> 00:51:30,924
to our own planet.
1037
00:51:30,924 --> 00:51:33,244
The scientists faced fear resistance.
1038
00:51:33,244 --> 00:51:36,344
And the repercussions of
inaction perhaps are now
1039
00:51:36,344 --> 00:51:38,264
being witnessed.
1040
00:51:38,264 --> 00:51:40,944
The same warnings are now
being echoed with respect
1041
00:51:40,944 --> 00:51:43,264
to our own species.
1042
00:51:43,264 --> 00:51:46,962
Let's not make the same mistake again.
1043
00:51:46,962 --> 00:51:50,662
We can't afford to wait
decades before action is taken.
1044
00:51:50,662 --> 00:51:53,322
Before wide scale
studies are commissioned.
1045
00:51:53,322 --> 00:51:56,082
Before the global community wakes up
1046
00:51:56,082 --> 00:51:59,222
to what we may be doing to ourselves.
1047
00:51:59,222 --> 00:52:02,302
And it all starts with birth.
1048
00:52:02,302 --> 00:52:04,002
- [Voiceover] What's
the worst case scenario
1049
00:52:04,002 --> 00:52:05,262
if we don't change?
1050
00:52:05,262 --> 00:52:07,582
- Well, the worse case
scenario if we don't change
1051
00:52:07,582 --> 00:52:11,122
is that the humanity is
heading for a huge health
1052
00:52:11,122 --> 00:52:14,402
crisis which will impact
on us economically.
1053
00:52:14,402 --> 00:52:17,582
It will impact on our quality
of life, but also most
1054
00:52:17,582 --> 00:52:20,342
significantly it's gonna
impact on the next generation.
1055
00:52:20,342 --> 00:52:22,702
And it takes several
generations to sometimes
1056
00:52:22,702 --> 00:52:25,972
sort out the problems
we've created previously.
1057
00:52:25,972 --> 00:52:27,882
So, we absolutely have to act now.
1058
00:52:27,882 --> 00:52:32,822
If we're wrong, and if it
was all smoke and mirrors,
1059
00:52:32,822 --> 00:52:34,482
then we've done no harm.
1060
00:52:34,482 --> 00:52:38,422
However, if we ignore it, we've
potentially done huge harm.
1061
00:52:38,422 --> 00:52:41,382
So, that's why we
actually have to act now.
1062
00:52:41,382 --> 00:52:44,662
- I think we're in the midst
of the largest experiment
1063
00:52:44,662 --> 00:52:47,082
in human history.
1064
00:52:47,082 --> 00:52:51,182
And we're not running the
controlled studies that
1065
00:52:51,182 --> 00:52:55,642
we need to know what the consequences are.
1066
00:52:55,642 --> 00:52:59,002
I think that's unethical.
1067
00:52:59,002 --> 00:53:02,702
I don't think it's acceptable.
1068
00:53:02,702 --> 00:53:05,302
I'm not saying we shouldn't
use the procedures
1069
00:53:05,302 --> 00:53:08,022
and the medical advances that we have.
1070
00:53:08,022 --> 00:53:12,362
I'm saying we owe it to the
children that we're producing,
1071
00:53:12,362 --> 00:53:15,742
to know everything we can
about what the consequences
1072
00:53:15,742 --> 00:53:20,742
for that child of those procedures are.
1073
00:53:22,402 --> 00:53:25,062
(dramatic piano music)
1074
00:53:25,062 --> 00:53:27,902
- I think it's extremely
urgent because the sooner
1075
00:53:27,902 --> 00:53:32,842
we can identify, and if
there are truly risks
1076
00:53:32,842 --> 00:53:35,402
for negative health
outcomes down the line,
1077
00:53:35,402 --> 00:53:38,942
we can make a significant impact on health
1078
00:53:38,942 --> 00:53:41,172
for all mankind.
1079
00:53:41,172 --> 00:53:44,292
For the first time ever, the
obesity epidemic has reached
1080
00:53:44,292 --> 00:53:47,212
such proportions, that
we're likely to see children
1081
00:53:47,212 --> 00:53:49,412
who have a shorter
lifespan than their parents
1082
00:53:49,412 --> 00:53:51,572
or their grandparents.
1083
00:53:51,572 --> 00:53:55,472
If how we're born affects our
chances of long term health,
1084
00:53:55,472 --> 00:53:59,052
can we do anything to
reduce this obesity epidemic
1085
00:53:59,052 --> 00:54:02,372
even by a very small degree,
we need to do something
1086
00:54:02,372 --> 00:54:03,492
about this now.
1087
00:54:03,492 --> 00:54:06,632
We need to seize this
opportunity to actually turn
1088
00:54:06,632 --> 00:54:08,992
the course of human health.
1089
00:54:08,992 --> 00:54:12,292
The jigsaw is sort of
being built isn't it?
1090
00:54:12,292 --> 00:54:16,012
This feels like another really
important bit of the jigsaw.
1091
00:54:16,012 --> 00:54:19,332
It's pointing in a clear direction,
1092
00:54:19,332 --> 00:54:23,712
which is child birth is
important for the future health
1093
00:54:23,712 --> 00:54:27,892
of our children, and we
need to get it right.
1094
00:54:27,892 --> 00:54:30,472
- We have to alert the
public about what's going on,
1095
00:54:30,472 --> 00:54:32,592
so that they understand
what the stakes are.
1096
00:54:32,592 --> 00:54:34,352
And where this is coming from.
1097
00:54:34,352 --> 00:54:37,872
And we need to do more science to pinpoint
1098
00:54:37,872 --> 00:54:41,032
the problems and also
develop the solutions.
1099
00:54:41,032 --> 00:54:45,052
If we're right, and I think
we've only just begun to scratch
1100
00:54:45,052 --> 00:54:47,352
the surface on how right we may be,
1101
00:54:47,352 --> 00:54:51,112
then we have got potentially
a huge issue coming up
1102
00:54:51,112 --> 00:54:52,552
to face us.
1103
00:54:52,552 --> 00:54:54,972
And a bit like climate
change, even though we don't
1104
00:54:54,972 --> 00:54:57,932
have all of the answers as
to what's going on, why,
1105
00:54:57,932 --> 00:55:00,472
and how severe that issue might be,
1106
00:55:00,472 --> 00:55:02,912
we're putting resources,
we're putting politics,
1107
00:55:02,912 --> 00:55:04,672
we're putting policies behind it,
1108
00:55:04,672 --> 00:55:06,592
and we're changing things
because it would be
1109
00:55:06,592 --> 00:55:10,252
so dreadful if we allowed this to escape
1110
00:55:10,252 --> 00:55:12,252
and become a bigger problem than it may.
1111
00:55:12,252 --> 00:55:16,632
- Scene, take one.
1112
00:55:16,632 --> 00:55:18,872
- It's a global problem.
1113
00:55:18,872 --> 00:55:21,232
It's not an American problem,
it's not a European problem,
1114
00:55:21,232 --> 00:55:24,132
it's not a Japanese problem,
it's not a Chinese problem.
1115
00:55:24,132 --> 00:55:28,768
It's a humanity problem.
1116
00:55:28,768 --> 00:55:30,128
It is (laughing).
1117
00:55:30,128 --> 00:55:32,548
- If we don't take the
bigger perspective and fund
1118
00:55:32,548 --> 00:55:35,188
research that asks the smart questions,
1119
00:55:35,188 --> 00:55:37,888
the big questions, the
developmental questions,
1120
00:55:37,888 --> 00:55:42,778
intergenerational questions,
epigenetic questions,
1121
00:55:42,778 --> 00:55:45,673
how do we know that we're
not altering the course
1122
00:55:45,673 --> 00:55:50,143
of humanity?
1123
00:56:16,644 --> 00:56:21,644
(dramatic orchestral music)
86105
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