"The rate of recent discoveries about the human microbiome has been dizzying. And Rob Knight wants to crank up the pace."

"One of the top scientists in a field that's discovering possible bacterial influences on everything from diabetes to depression, Knight was also cofounder of a massive citizen science experiment called the American Gut Project. In recent weeks he moved from the University of Colorado, Boulder and took the gut project with him – to the medical school at the University of California, San Diego."

"The project lets anybody, for a $99 fee, have the microbes of the gut, mouth, skin or other orifices inventoried. And it's not just for people, but pets, too. Last year I roped my husband, mom and dog into having their gut microbes analyzed along with mine in hopes of discovering what microscopic stories we share. (You can read more about the results here.)"