Metagenomics is the study of material directly from the earth. Metagenomics is one of the fastest advancing fields in biology. By permitting access to the genomes of entire communities of bacteria, viruses and fungi that were inaccessible, metagenomics is extending our knowledge of the diversity, ecology, evolution and functioning of the microbial world. While isolating microorganisms from nature has slowed a brilliant display of biodiversity. current studies suggest that 99% of the world’s microbes remain unknown in the lab. It is clear that we have a lot to learn from the vast world of microorganisms left to discover
This photos shows the colorful diversity of fungal microorganisms isolated from tropical plants. (Photo credit: J. Russell, Strobel Lab, Yale University 2009)