Plant and Animal Microbiome

Plant and animal microbiomes are expansive and diverse microbial communities that colonise various tissues such as gut, skin, and root. The microbiome of the individuals plays an important role in their health and in the health of the ecosystem they inhabit. It can also impact their fitness, productivity, and disease resistance. Environmental scientists can use metagenomic sequencing to assess microbiome diversity and function and its interactions with the host organism to learn how perturbations in the microbiome can impact the host and its environment. Agricultural researchers may also use metagenomic analysis to assess how the microbiome impacts factors such as stress resistance, nutrient uptake, milk or meat production, and breeding.