An example of metaphor in public science discourse:
"And it is increasingly thought that the microbiome is a key component, a key part of the engine that explains why we are seeing this collective change in chronic disease risk…
the largest microbiome is within the gut, and it is of such significant importance, not just because it's the largest, it's because that's where the majority of our immune engine lives and exists…
And what you see is that the microbiome is a very important part of the engine room that explains why a high fibre diet has so many important health properties…"
Dr James Kinross
Dr James Kinross (Senior Lecturer in Colorectal Surgery and a Consultant Surgeon at Imperial College London) was speaking on an episode ('Allergies and the Microbiome') of BBC's 'Start the Week'