Metagenomics is a next-generation sequencing (NGS) based method. Unlike PCR-based approaches, it is a culture-free method that enables genetic analysis of an entire microbial communities’ genomes in a complex sample. This creates a biodiversity profile that can be further associated with functional composition analysis of known and unknown organism lineages (ie, genera or taxa).
Metagenomic studies are commonly performed by analyzing the prokaryotic 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rRNA), which is approximately 1,500 bp long and contains nine variable regions interspersed between conserved regions. Variable regions of 16S rRNA are frequently used in phylogenetic classifications such as genus or species in diverse microbial populations. Our service is based on sequencing the variable V3, V4 and V5 regions of the 16S rRNA gene.