Unlocking the potential of metagenomics through replicated experimental design

TY - JOUR

T1 - Unlocking the potential of metagenomics through replicated experimental design

AU - Knight, R.

AU - Jansson, J.

AU - Field, D.

AU - Fierer, N.

AU - Desai, N.

AU - Fuhrman, J.A.

AU - Hugenholtz, P.

AU - Van der Lelie, D.

AU - Meyer, F.

AU - Stevens, R.

AU - Bailey, M.J.

AU - Gordon, J.I.

AU - Kowalchuk, G.A.

AU - Gilbert, J.A.

N1 - Reporting year: 2012 Metis note: 5309; WAG; ME

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Metagenomics holds enormous promise for discovering novel enzymes and organisms that are biomarkers or drivers of processes relevant to disease, industry and the environment. In the past two years, we have seen a paradigm shift in metagenomics to the application of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies enabled by advances in DNA sequencing and high-performance computing. These technologies now make it possible to broadly assess microbial diversity and function, allowing systematic investigation of the largely unexplored frontier of microbial life. To achieve this aim, the global scientific community must collaborate and agree upon common objectives and data standards to enable comparative research across the Earth's microbiome. Improvements in comparability of data will facilitate the study of biotechnologically relevant processes, such as bioprospecting for new glycoside hydrolases or identifying novel energy sources.

AB - Metagenomics holds enormous promise for discovering novel enzymes and organisms that are biomarkers or drivers of processes relevant to disease, industry and the environment. In the past two years, we have seen a paradigm shift in metagenomics to the application of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies enabled by advances in DNA sequencing and high-performance computing. These technologies now make it possible to broadly assess microbial diversity and function, allowing systematic investigation of the largely unexplored frontier of microbial life. To achieve this aim, the global scientific community must collaborate and agree upon common objectives and data standards to enable comparative research across the Earth's microbiome. Improvements in comparability of data will facilitate the study of biotechnologically relevant processes, such as bioprospecting for new glycoside hydrolases or identifying novel energy sources.

KW - international

U2 - 10.1038/nbt.2235

DO - 10.1038/nbt.2235

M3 - Article

SN - 1087-0156

VL - 30

SP - 513

EP - 520

JO - Nature Biotechnology

JF - Nature Biotechnology

IS - 6

ER -