Recent advances in molecular techniques for the detection of phylogenetic markers and functional genes in microbial communities
Stanley C.K. Lau,
Wen-Tso Liu,
Stanley C.K. Lau
Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Search for more papers by this authorWen-Tso Liu
Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Search for more papers by this authorStanley C.K. Lau,
Wen-Tso Liu,
Stanley C.K. Lau
Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Search for more papers by this authorWen-Tso Liu
Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Search for more papers by this authorCorrespondence: Wen-Tso Liu, Block EA, #03-12, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore. Tel.: +65 6516 1315; fax: +65 6774 4202; e-mail: [email protected]
Editor: Rustam Aminov
Abstract
The detection and analysis of nucleic acids extracted from microbial communities are the ultimate ways to determine the diversity and functional capability of microbial communities in the environments. However, it remains a challenge to use molecular techniques for unequivocal determination and quantification of microbial species composition and functional activities. Considerable efforts have been made to enhance the capability of molecular techniques. Here an update of the recent developments in molecular techniques for environmental microbiology is provided.
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