How Much Bacteria Does The Human Body Really Contain?

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The idea that every person contains 10 times more bacteria than human body cells is something of a myth. Juan Gaertner/Shutterstock

The human body may contain around 10 times fewer bacteria than previously thought, with the average person being made up of roughly equal numbers of body cells and microbes. This information goes against the long-standing assumption that each living person is composed of around 10 times more bacteria than human cells, exposing this as something of a myth.