How do we study microbes that refuse to grow in labs? The power of metagenomics
“If you can’t grow them, you can’t study them.” This was the reality for early microbiologists. Traditional microbiology relies on culturing: a process that involves isolating microbes, recreating their ideal environmental conditions in petri dishes or flasks, and feeding them specific nutrients to coax them into growing. This helps us understand their biology, behavior, and […]
