The microbial population in our guts not only helps with digestion and nutrient absorption, but it also facilitates many important biochemical signaling pathways involved in diseases and our immune systems. The gut microbiome is also able to influence our mental state through the gut-brain axis. In this week's SciMon, learn how transplanting gut microbes from patients diagnosed with depression affects the mental state of germ-free mice. Learn more at: http://www.illumina.com/techniques/sequencing/rna-sequencing.html Products: Illumina HiSeq: http://www.illumina.com/systems/hiseq_2500_1500.html Illumina TruSeq RNA Library Prep Kit: http://www.illumina.com/products/truseq_rna_library_prep_kit_v2.html Publication Link: PMID:27067014 | Zheng, et al. (2016): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27067014 The Science Mondays (SciMon) series is brought to you by Illumina http://www.illumina.com/ Illumina hosts Kevin Maxkwee, Scientist in Scientific Affairs, and Jacques Retief, Associate Director of Scientific Affairs, give you a quick report on breaking news.