Did you know that the human gut is home to 1-2 kg of bacteria, there are 1,000 times as many bacteria in your gut than
there are stars in the Milky Way, and the surface area of your intestine is bigger than a tennis court?
They are just some of the interesting and fun facts at Microbe Magic, an educational website run by the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre. A research team at the centre in UCC is looking at how bacteria in the gut can help keep us healthy.
Free games
Microbe Magic has guides, a newsletter and plenty of science games. For example, “GUT reaction” is a 3D game for Windows which puts you in command of a T-cell (part of the body’s immune system) to fight bad pathogens and cancers.
And in “GutBuster” you control Sergeant Leuk O’Cyte (a leukocyte) as he battles to protect the gut wall from Pat O’Gen (a pathogen) and the E. Coli Crew.
This particular game comes in a web-based version, as well as “GutBuster Mobile” – in versions for most leading mobile phones. The games are all free, but remember that for the mobile games the standard data charges (of around €1 to €2) will apply.
Learn more
Visit Microbe Magic’s website
Learn about a career in microbiology, where you could develop more effective chemotherapy or immunisation methods
