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Biomedical research suggests that the widespread “westernization” of lifestyles has led to the depletion of microbiotes—the complex ecosystems of micro-organisms of our bodies—and the disappearance of some bacterial strains living in them. In an attempt to preserve this endangered biodiversity, MIT researchers have just launched the Global Microbiome Conservancy project, which aims to “collect and preserve the biodiversity of human intestinal microbes for future generations.” This article describes how these practices contribute to a broader renewal of the understanding of bodies, micro-organisms and diseases, as well as their relationship to history and environments, and identifies some of their implicit and unintended consequences.