Biology / Unit 7 Bio 1589 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Metagenomics
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The idea
Metagenomics studies the collective genomes of multiple species growing together in an environmental niche, without first isolating each species in pure culture.
In practice
Sequencing DNA extracted directly from a soil sample identifies species present in that community that pure-culture methods would miss.
Where people slip
Metagenomics studies a community's combined genetic material directly — it does not require isolating and culturing each member species first.
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