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Abstract
Culture-independent molecular surveys using the 16S rRNA gene have become a mainstay
for characterizing microbial community structure over the past quarter century. More
recently this approach has been overshadowed by metagenomics, which provides a global
overview of a community's functional potential rather than just an inventory of its
inhabitants. However, the pioneering 16S rRNA gene is making a comeback in its own
right thanks to a number of methodological advancements including higher resolution
(more sequences), analysis of multiple related samples (e.g. spatial and temporal
series) and improved metadata, and use of metadata. The standard conclusion that microbial
ecosystems are remarkably complex and diverse is now being replaced by detailed insights
into microbial ecology and evolution based only on this one historically important
marker gene.