Microbial Diversity Biased Estimation Caused by Intragenomic Heterogeneity and Interspecific Conservation of 16S rRNA Genes
Piaopiao Pan, Yichao Gu, Donglei Sun, Qinglong L. Wu, Ning‐Yi Zhou
Abstract
Microbial diversity is typically analyzed using marker gene-based methods, of which 16S rRNA gene sequencing is the most widely used approach. However, obtaining an accurate estimation of microbial diversity remains a challenge, due to the intragenomic variation and low taxonomic resolution of 16S rRNA genes. Comprehensive examination of the bias in estimating such prokaryotic diversity using 16S rRNA genes within ever-increasing prokaryotic genomes highlights the importance of the choice of sequencing regions and clustering thresholds based on the specific research objectives.
Topics & Concepts
BiologyInterspecific competitionGeneGeneticsEvolutionary biology16S ribosomal RNARibosomal RNAComputational biologyEcologyMicrobial Community Ecology and PhysiologyGut microbiota and healthGenomics and Phylogenetic Studies