title: Recent advances in molecular techniques for the detection of phylogenetic markers and functional genes in microbial communities.
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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Stanley C K
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Wen-Tso
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000639:trends*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal