Metagenomics is the study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples (such as soil or water samples). Metagenomic sequencing allows researchers to comprehensively sample all genes in all organisms present in a given complex sample.
Because many natural microorganisms cannot be isolated and cultured or cloned, the vast majority of microbial biodiversity has been missed by traditional cultivation-based analysis methods. New next-gen DNA sequencing technologies enable us to directly sequence all genetic material that is recovered from all the members of a sampled community, including unculturable microorganisms that are otherwise difficult to analyze. This method provides, not only the species identification, classification and quantitation of microbes but also provides information for functional analysis of all the genes through gene ontology and metabolic pathway analysis.
Technical Advantages
- Captures the entire biodiversity of complex samples.
- Allows the simultaneous study of bacteria, archea, viruses, and single celled eukaryotes.
- Enables a more specific taxonomic and functional classification.
- Reveals the functional ecology of environmental communities on a massive scale.
- Provide insight into the function of complex microbial communities and their role in host health.
- Enables the study of metabolic pathways to explore the relationship between microorganisms and the environment.
Data Flow
