I tried a microbiome test from uBiome. Here's what it was like.

i tried an at-home gut-microbiome test kit made from the silicon valley startup ubiome.founded in 2012, ubiome raised $105 million from investors on the promise of exploring the microbiome, a 'forgotten organ.'the startup is now in hot water on the heels of an fbi investigation and new revelations that cofounders and co-ceos jessica richman and zachary apte misled the public about personal details.i took ubiome's “explorer” test last december. here's what i learned.if you've ever taken a probiotic, eaten yogurt, or added pickles to your sandwich, you've taken a step toward nourishing the vital community of life in your gut collectively known as your microbiome.in recent years, scientists have described the microbiome as the “forgotten organ,” thanks to its emerging role in everything from mood to the risk of serious diseases.until last month, one startup — a silicon valley company called ubiome — appeared to be leading the way in pinning down precisely how the microbiome influences our health.since being founded in 2012, the startup raised $105 million from investors like os fund. ubiome seemed well on its way to transitioning from a citizen science project to a key player on the life science venture scene.then at the end of april, the fbi raided ubiome's san francisco headquarters. it was part of a reported probe of ubiome's billing practices. last week, business insider published reported that cofounders and co-ceos jessica richman and zachary apte also misled the public about personal details like richman's age and their relationship.read more: silicon valley startup ubiome raised $105 million on the promise of exploring a 'forgotten organ.' after an fbi raid, ex-employees say it cut corners in its quest for growth.in december, i got the chance to try one of ubiome's products — a microbiome testing kit called the “explorer.” my ubiome test results came with a significant surprise. here's what the experience was like.this article was originally published in december 2018 and has been updated.