Extremophiles are organisms that can be found in extreme environmental conditions. The name of this group was derived from the Greek word 'philos' which literally means 'lover' of extreme conditions. Extremophiles can be classified into four main subgroups namely: halophiles, thermophiles, alkaliphiles and, acidophiles. Halophiles can tolerate environments with very high salinity such as salt...

Since bacteria lack histones and nucleosomes, they primarily use DNA methylation as their epigenetic gene regulation. There are three different types of DNA methylation in bacterial genomes: N4-methylcytosine (4mC), N6-methyladenine (6mA), and 5-methylcytosine (5mC). Generally, prokaryotes have higher 6mA levels but lower 5mC levels than plants and mammals. DNA is methylated when a methyl group...

What Is Shotgun Metagenomics Metagenomics is the science that applies high-throughput sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools to directly obtain the genetic content of a microbial community without the need to isolate and culture the individual microbial species. Metagenomics enables researches not only to study the functional gene composition of...

The nitrogen cycle stands as one of Earth's paramount biogeochemical cycles, with microorganisms playing an indispensable role in its intricate web. Harnessing the power of metagenomic technologies, we unlock a comprehensive view of both the sheer quantity and the diverse array of functional microbial taxa interwoven within the nitrogen cycle. Consequently, we gain profound insights into...