Questions: The Human Microbiome Project used DNA sequencing to characterize microbial communities that inhabit the human body attempted to characterize the impact of humans on different environments around the planet quantified the human population in each country on earth cultivated, in pure culture, all the species of bacteria living in and on the human body

The answer is the first one: used DNA sequencing to characterize microbial communities that inhabit the human body.

Explanation for each option:

1. Used DNA sequencing to characterize microbial communities that inhabit the human body: This is correct. The Human Microbiome Project (HMP) aimed to identify and characterize the microorganisms found in association with both healthy and diseased humans using advanced DNA sequencing techniques.

2. Attempted to characterize the impact of humans on different environments around the planet: This is incorrect. The HMP focused on the human microbiome, not on the broader environmental impact of humans.

3. Quantified the human population in each country on earth: This is incorrect. The HMP did not deal with human population statistics; it was concerned with microbial populations associated with humans.

4. Cultivated, in pure culture, all the species of bacteria living in and on the human body: This is incorrect. While the HMP did involve some culturing of bacteria, its primary method was DNA sequencing, and it is not feasible to cultivate all microbial species in pure culture.

Summary: The Human Microbiome Project used DNA sequencing to characterize microbial communities that inhabit the human body.