Molecular approaches to the study of aquatic microbial communities
Molecular methods for studying microbial communities are still under development. Enormous sequence catalogues can be collected; they must now be related to microbial activities. Messenger RNA detection, fluorescent in situ hybridization, cell sorting, and oligonucleotide array technology are currently being explored. Biases are associated with all these methods, but combined approaches offer checks and balances.
MacGregor
BJ
Civil Engineering Department Northwestern University 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. bmacgreg@anton.civil.nwu.edu.