What if we’ve been measuring the wrong microbes all along?
For years, scientists have studied the skin microbiome by analyzing DNA found on the surface of our skin. But there’s a big problem: that DNA doesn’t just come from living bacteria—it also comes from dead ones, long gone but still leaving traces behind.
A team of researchers decided to tackle this issue head-on. They used a clever method to remove what they call “relic DNA” — the leftover genetic material from dead microbes — and focused only on the DNA from live bacteria.
The result? Surprising: up to 90% of the DNA on our skin can come from dead microbes.
By filtering out the relic DNA, the team got a much clearer and more accurate picture of the living skin microbiome. They discovered specific patterns between people and different body sites that had been hidden before. Some bacteria that seemed common were mostly dead, while others showed up in unexpected places once only the living ones were counted.
This breakthrough matters. Knowing exactly which microbes are alive on our skin helps us better understand how our microbiome affects health, how infections start, and how treatments or skincare products work.
Sometimes, to see the truth, you have to clear out the ghosts.
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