title: Microbial diversity: the importance of exploration and conservation.
abstract: Microbial diversity is fundamental to maintenance and conservation of global genetic resources. As extreme environments are explored, the richness of microbial diversity is increasingly evident. Measures must be taken to estimate, record, and conserve microbial diversity, not only to sustain human health but also to enrich the human condition globally through wise use and conservation of genetic resources of the microbial world.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park 20740, USA.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Colwell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000235:genetics; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics