In this eye-opening episode of The Joe Cohen Show, Joe sits down with microbiologist and biotech entrepreneur Kiran Krishnan to dismantle the myths and marketing hype surrounding microbiome testing.
Drawing parallels between the DNA and microbiome industries, they expose the scientific shortcuts, technological flaws, and misleading health claims being sold to consumers.
Krishnan, the mind behind one of the few microbiome platforms used in published research, breaks down what a legitimate test looks like and why most tests on the market fall short, sometimes by as much as 70% in accuracy.
The conversation also explores probiotics in depth, why strain specificity matters, and how consumers can make more informed decisions when navigating this complex and evolving space.
Whether you’re a health professional or someone trying to optimize your gut, this episode will help you separate science from sales.
📌 Topics covered: microbiome testing technology, bioinformatics, probiotic strains, sequencing methods, red flags in wellness tech
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(00:00) - Introduction to the Joe Cohen Show
(00:16) - Meet Kiran Krishnan
(01:07) - Understanding Microbiome Testing
(03:01) - The Importance of Whole Genome Sequencing
(04:48) - Challenges in Microbiome and Genetic Testing
(05:42) - Critique of 16S Ribosomal RNA Sequencing
(11:58) - Issues with Viome and Other Testing Companies
(21:14) - Complexities of Microbiome Mapping
(23:27) - Validating Microbiome Tests
(27:04) - The Future of Microbiome Technology
(28:10) - Advancements in Genome Sequencing
(29:18) - Challenges in Microbiome Analysis
(30:40) - Economic Realities of Sequencing
(31:57) - Company Strategies and Ethics
(33:49) - Benefits of Microbiome Testing
(35:12) - Probiotics and Gut Health
(38:20) - Top Probiotic Strains
(43:00) - Importance of Specific Strains
(52:52) - Concluding Thoughts on Probiotics
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