Journal Article

Recent advances in genomic DNA sequencing of microbial species from single cells

McLean, Jeffrey S., Lasken, Roger S.

2014

Overview

Single-cell sequencing of uncultivated microbial species is rapidly providing a wealth of new information. Here, the authors provide an update on recent progress in capturing novel genomes, large-scale environmental studies and research relating to human health, as well as recent methodological improvements and remaining technical challenges. The vast majority of microbial species remain uncultivated and, until recently, about half of all known bacterial phyla were identified only from their 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. With the advent of single-cell sequencing, genomes of uncultivated species are rapidly filling in unsequenced branches of the microbial phylogenetic tree. The wealth of new insights gained from these previously inaccessible groups is providing a deeper understanding of their basic biology, taxonomy and evolution, as well as their diverse roles in environmental ecosystems and human health.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 631/114/2785/2302 / 631/1647/514/2254 / 631/208/212/2142 / 631/326/41 / Agriculture / Animal Genetics and Genomics / Bacteria / Bacteria - classification / Bacteria - genetics / Biomedicine / Cancer Research / DNA sequencing / DNA, Bacterial - chemistry / DNA, Bacterial - genetics / DNA, Ribosomal - chemistry / DNA, Ribosomal - genetics / Evolution, Molecular / Gene Function / Genes / Genetic research / Genetic Variation / Genome, Bacterial - genetics / Genomes / Genomics / Human Genetics / Innovations / Methods / Microbial genetics / Microbiological research / Microbiota / Nucleotide sequencing / Phylogenetics / Phylogeny / progress / RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics / Sequence Analysis, DNA - methods / Taxonomy