Metagenomics
                     Metagenomics
INTRODUCTION
 Metagenomics is the study of microbes in their 
natural living environment, which involves the 
complex microbial communities in which they 
usually exist.
Source: www.news-medical.net
Genomic composition 
 The study examines the genomic composition of an 
entire organism, including each of the microbes 
that exist within it. 
 It is an important concept for the microbes and the 
host to be thought of as interdependent and 
observed as a community, rather than considered 
to be separate entities.
Source: www.news-medical.net
Microbes of earth
 Microbes are essential for all life on earth because 
they are involved with processes in the biosphere 
to convert key elements of life (e.g. carbon, 
nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur) into biologically accessible 
forms. 
 These chemical cycles are dependent on microbes 
to continue and maintain environmental stability.
Source: www.news-medical.net
Microbes in human life
 Human life is hence intricately linked with microbial 
communities, which are responsible for the supply 
of nutrients, metals and vitamins. 
 Microbes are directly involved in the process of 
fermentation, remediation of toxins, nutrient 
extraction and food digestion.
Source: www.news-medical.net
Microbial communities and human 
health
 Given the essential role that microbes play in the 
health of humans and animals on earth, it may 
come as a surprise that the overwhelming majority 
of the microbial population that resides within 
humans has not been observed and researched 
significantly in the past.
Source: www.news-medical.net
Metabolic pathways
 Microbes may encode metabolic pathways that are 
essential for survival of human life, even though 
they do not exist in the genome of humans.
Source: www.news-medical.net
Health Conditions
 Changes in the levels of microbes that regularly 
interact with humans may be associated with 
causing some health conditions, such as 
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cardiovascular 
disease, eczema or cancer.
Source: www.news-medical.net
Health Conditions Cont.
 The microbes responsible for these changes are not 
likely to be the type of microbes that directly cause 
illness or infection. 
 Instead, the more likely explanation is that the 
microbes and the human body ordinarily work 
together to successfully digest food, remove toxins 
from the body and prevent infection from taking 
over the body.
Source: www.news-medical.net
Metagenomics and research 
techniques
 The field of metagenomics is relatively new 
because microbes have traditionally been studied 
in a laboratory-based setting, rather than within the 
host as a combined entity. 
 Therefore, the current knowledge of microbes in 
their natural habitat is scarce.
Source: www.news-medical.net
Advancements in Metagenomics
 Metagenomics aims to make advancements in 
environmental and clinical microbiology, despite 
significant barriers such as difficulty to make a 
culture and the genomic diversity of microbes.
Source: www.news-medical.net