The biggest winners in DNA and protein sequence analysis: Metagenomics, DNA microarray, biosensors, molecular subtyping, and phage recombinant probes

In an age of molecular genetics, viable but not culturable organisms, and highly sophisticated DNA sequence analysis technologies, is there a chance for a new breakthrough? It is quite extraordinary that 99% of microorganisms not only can't be cultured but are totally unknown to the scientific community. Many bacterial gene functions and identifications in the environment have been uncovered by recent advances in metagenomics or culture-independent genomic analysis in addition to the DNA microarray technology. Our knowledge of detecting and classifying bacterial isolates has been also improved by cutting-edge molecular tools such as biosensors and molecular subtyping as well as phage recombinant probes. Microbial communities, many to be discovered, are slowly revealed by these sharp scientific discoveries.