Metagenomics, which can be defined as the science of biological diversity, consists of the genomic analysis of a microbial population with similar but not identical members, by the use of genetic and molecular analysis. A comprehensive metagenomic study provides understanding of the dynamics of a microbial population and includes analysis of nucleotide sequence, structure, regulation and function. Metagenomics has applications in a broad range of areas. For example the metagenomics approach has been used to study the intestinal microflora (Norin et al 2009 in Lactobacillus Molecular Biology), in studies of bioremediation and biodegradation (Díaz 2008 Microbial Biodegradation), and in the study of bacteriophage in the environment (Weinbauer et al 2007 in Bacteriophage: Genetics and Molecular Biology).

Further reading: Metagenomics: Theory, Methods and Applications

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