Microbes Matter: Metagenomics in Decoding the Microbial World for Modern Applications

“Microbiome” has become incredibly popular these days. Though it may sound like a relatively new concept, it has been there in the early days of microbial ecology, since the first report of the bacteria (by Antony van Leeuwenhoek, in 1683).  In 2001, a microbiologist and Nobel Laureate, Joshua Lederberg, coined the term “microbiome” to refer to the ecological system of a collection of all microorganisms that inhabit and coexist alongside other species. Today, the collection of all these microorganisms themselves is termed “microbiota”, and the collection of all microbial genomes is termed “Microbiome”.

Why Are Microbiomes So Important?

Microbes, these tiny organisms run the world and literally follow you everywhere, be it your hands, food, grass, or even hiding on your laptop like invisible bugs! They are not just a crucial part of human life, but fundamental to all forms of life on the earth. Microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, protists ...