A review of the book Environmental Molecular Microbiology from Mercedes Berlanga, University of Barcelona, Spain:

"Although measuring the reservoir of prokaryotic diversity is not a trivial task, fortunately, microbial ecology is currently benefiting from a technological boom with respect to the rapid development of molecular techniques, in general, and 'omics' technologies in particular (genomics-metagenomics, proteomics-metaproteomics, transcriptomes). These techniques and their applications are the subject of Environmental Molecular Microbiology, which provides a state-of-the- art molecular toolbox to study microbial ecology.

Understanding the ecology of microorganisms is inarguably one of the most compelling intellectual challenges facing contemporary ecology. Environmental Molecular Microbiology is highly recommended to students and researchers interested in microbial diversity and ecology. The knowledge and methodologies described in the book offer invaluable research tools with which to meet this challenge."

read more at: Environmental Molecular Microbiology

Further reading:

• Molecular Phylogeny of Microorganisms
• Metagenomics: Theory, Methods and Applications
• Microbial Population Genetics

Labels: book review, Ecology of Microorganisms, environmental molecular microbiology, microbial ecology, Prokaryotic Diversity

Molecular biology has revolutionized the study of microorganisms in the environment and improved our understanding of the composition, phylogeny, and physiology of microbial communities. The current molecular toolbox encompasses a range of DNA-based technologies and new methods for the study of RNA and proteins extracted from environmental samples. Currently there is a major emphasis on the application of "omics" approaches to determine the identities and functions of microbes inhabiting different environments.

The molecular tehnologies currently available for the study of the composition and diversity of microbial communities and their functions include metagenomics, metaproteomics, microarrays, and molecular fingerprinting.

Further reading: Environmental Molecular Microbiology

Labels: environment, environmental microbiology, environmental molecular microbiology