Analyzing natural microbial populations by rRNA sequences

Abstract

The authors are interested in exploring natural microbial habitats and searching for unknown biochemical diversity. This means evolutionary diversity, because it points toward potential biochemical novelty and targets for future studies. In this article, the authors describe technical strategies that are used to analyze the phylogenetic and quantitative aspects of mixed, naturally occurring microbial populations. rRNA nucleotide sequences are particularly (possible uniquely) useful for broad phylogenetic characterizations. The authors then outline the methods used to determine the 5S rRNA and 16S rDNA (cloned 16S rRNA genes) sequences of mixed populations and consider some aspects of evaluating the sequence data.