[Campbell Biology P.493] Which of the following statements accurately describes metagenomics... | Practice Question
Which of the following statements accurately describes metagenomics and its primary advantage?
A: Collecting DNA from individual cultured species and assembling complete genomes; advantage is high purity.
B: Collecting DNA from an entire environmental community and sequencing it; advantage is eliminating the need for culturing individual species.
C: Analyzing RNA sequences from mixed microbial populations; advantage is identifying active genes.
D: Using computer software to predict protein structures from sequenced genomes; advantage is speeding up drug discovery.
Explanation
Metagenomics is an approach where DNA from an entire community of species in an environmental sample is collected and sequenced. Its primary advantage is eliminating the need to culture individual species, which has historically limited the study of microorganisms.