Why words matter

Why words matter: researchers propose a new term for microbial communities

A team of international researchers, including some of Domino’s partners, is calling for a change in the way scientists describe intentionally assembled groups of microorganisms. In a recent publication in Nature Communications, they propose replacing the term “synthetic community” (SynCom) with “Defined Microbial Community” (DMC).

These communities are made up of carefully selected and well-characterised microbial strains that researchers use to study how microorganisms interact with each other, their environment, or their hosts. They also play an important role in developing innovations in areas such as food, health, agriculture and environmental sustainability.

So why the change? According to the authors, the word synthetic can be misleading. While it is often associated with genetic modification or artificial organisms, many of these microbial communities are actually composed of naturally occurring microorganisms. The term Defined Microbial Community better reflects what they are: groups of known microbial strains assembled for a specific scientific purpose.

The researchers argue that clearer terminology could improve communication among scientists, policymakers and the public, while also supporting the development of microbiome-based innovations.

Read more on the paper “From “synthetic” to defined microbial communities for clearer terminology” and read more on the Inrae website.