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The Potential of Metagenomic Approaches for Understanding Soil Microbial Processes
Author(s) -
Myrold David D.,
Zeglin Lydia H.,
Jansson Janet K.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj2013.07.0287dgs
Subject(s) - metagenomics , biogeochemical cycle , environmental science , biology , earth science , ecology , computer science , geology , biochemistry , gene
Technological advances in sequencing technologies and bioinformatics analysis tools now enable the generation of a metagenome from soil, although the ultimate goal of obtaining the entire complement of all genes of all organisms in a given sample of soil still lies in the future. The rich information obtained from a soil metagenome will undoubtedly provide new insights into the taxonomic and functional diversity of soil microorganisms; the question is whether it will also yield greater understanding of how C, N, and other nutrients cycle in soil. The purpose of this review is to describe the steps involved in producing a soil metagenome, including some of the potential pitfalls associated with its production and annotation. Possible solutions to some of these challenges are presented. Selected examples from published soil metagenomic studies are discussed, with an emphasis on clues that they have provided about biogeochemical cycling.