title: The Earth's bounty: assessing and accessing soil microbial diversity.
abstract: The study of microbial diversity represents a major opportunity for advances in biology and biotechnology. Recent progress in molecular microbial ecology shows that the extent of microbial diversity in nature is far greater than previously thought. Here, we discuss methods to analyse microorganisms from natural environments without culturing them and new approaches for gaining access to the genetic and chemical resources of these microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA. mrr@plantpath.wisc.edu
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rondon
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Handelsman
mesh_terms: D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019641:DNA, Archaeal / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D018534:Earth, Planet; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D019641:DNA, Archaeal; D004269:DNA, Bacterial