Metagenomics
Metagenomics is a methodological process that aims to study the microbiome. The microbiome is the set of micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeasts, plankton…) living in a specific environment (intestine, ocean, soil, air, etc.).
Metagenomic analysis can be performed using 2 approaches:
– by sequencing one or more specific genes, called barcode, shared by several species. This is known as targeted metagenomics or metabarcoding.
– by sequencing the genomes of the organisms present in the environment to be analyzed, without distinction of species (bacteria, viruses, fungi etc…..). This is called shotgun metagenomics.