Metagenomics : Humana Press : 9781607618225 : 1607618222 : 21 Sep 2010 : Metagenomics has proven to be a powerful tool for exploring the ecology, metabolic profiling, and comparison of complex microbial communities as well as its important applications in the mining of metagenomes for genes encoding novel biocatalysts and drug molecules for bioindustries. In Metagenomics: Methods and Protocols, expert researches provide an overview and introduction to basic methods commonly used in laboratories that have a strong background in microbial metagenomics. The book attempts to address all of the working steps involved in this crucial field, beginning with DNA isolation from soils and marine samples and continuing with the construction and screening of libraries, along with key advise involving bioinformatic tools available to analyze large metagenomic sequence data sets. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology? series format, chapters include brief introductions to th