Gut microbiome heritability is nearly universal but environmentally contingent

Relatives have more similar gut microbiomes than nonrelatives, but the degree to which this similarity results from shared genotypes versus shared environments has been controversial. Here, we leveraged 16,234 gut microbiome profiles, collected over 14 years from 585 wild baboons, to reveal that host genetic effects on the gut microbiome are nearly universal. Controlling for diet, age, and socioecological variation, 97% of microbiome phenotypes were significantly heritable, including several reported as heritable in humans. Heritability was typically low (mean = 0.068) but was systematically greater in the dry season, with low diet diversity, and in older hosts. We show that longitudinal profiles and large sample sizes are crucial to quantifying microbiome heritability, and indicate scope for selection on microbiome characteristics as a host phenotype.

Automated summary

Analysis of 16,234 gut microbiome profiles from 585 wild baboons collected over 14 years revealed that host genetic effects on the gut microbiome are nearly universal. The study found that 97% of microbiome phenotypes were significantly heritable, with heritability being greater in the dry season, with low diet diversity, and in older hosts. These findings suggest the potential for selection on microbiome characteristics as a host phenotype.