TUC0639: The Benefits of Microbial Genome Projects
Session Code:
TUC0639
Session Title:
The Benefits of Microbial Genome Projects
Speaker(s):
Dr Richard KONG (Department of Biology and Chemistry)
Session Outline:
Micro-organisms have survived and evolved on planet Earth for more than 3.8 billion years. Microbes are thought to make up more than 60% of the earth's biomass (Staley et al., 1997) and have been found in many different types of environments. They survive and grow under conditions of extreme heat, cold, radiation, pressure, salt, acidity and alkalinity. Often, these environments do not support other forms of life and are where nutrients are derived only from inorganic matter (Atlas, 1997). It has been estimated that only 1% of all microbial species on this planet has so far been discovered. The presence and survival of microbes in such a diverse range of environmental conditions indicate that micro-organisms long ago "solved" many problems for which scientists are still actively seeking solutions. By understanding the survival mechanisms of microbes in diverse environments at the genome level, answers related to medicine, agriculture, industrial processes, energy production, and environmental and waste clean-up may be uncovered. Moreover, scientists are beginning to understand how microbial life is linked to global climate processes, and insights about the role of microbes in the overall "metabolism" of the planet are gradually being unfolded. This course provides a simplified update on research being conducted in these various areas.
