microorganisms

Comprehensive characterization of genomic composition in environmental microbial samples has been challenging, because the majority of microorganisms are difficult to culture. Additional challenges include a high degree of genetic diversity between and within species, various level of relative abundance and ubiquitous presence of cell-free DNA. Single cells or single molecules genomic assays hold great promise for tackling these challenges. Recent progresses in the developments of these...

About 250 leaders in the emerging science of metagenomics converged at the UC San Diego division of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) earlier this month for the third Annual International Conference on Metagenomics. The conference was a week-long opportunity to share data and discuss the latest research, explore how advances in computing and sequencing technologies might be of benefit, and build or strengthen collaborations in the field.

The first day at Metagenomics 2008 is discussed in a Q & A panel session at the end of the day.

Respiratory microorganisms capture energy for growth and maintenance as they transfer electrons from energy sources to appropriate electron acceptors. Controlling the availability of electron donor and acceptor pairs provides opportunities for investigating fundamental aspects of energy transformation and distribution in defined and un defined microbial cultures. For example, we have noted that in all bacteria investigated to date electron acceptor limitation prompts the production of...