Through a novel genomic approach detailed in the September 7 online edition and on the cover September 14 of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, an international team of scientists led by the University of New South Wales and the DOE JGI demonstrates how the microbial diversity of the oceans can be analyzed without necessarily cultivating samples in the laboratory.
“The model we describe is useful in studying whole marine microbial communities, or metagenomes, to better understand how communities in specific locations are evolving,” said senior author Rick Cavicchioli of the University of New South Wales. “In essence, by analyzing and comparing the strategies of the dominant organisms we should have an idea of the carbon flux going through the environment which in turn will be affected by global warming.
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