DNA study unlocks microbial dark matter

Scientists have uncovered the genomes of 'microbial dark matter' - microbes previously unexplored by science - using cutting-edge DNA technology. The research provides new insight into bacterial genetics and helps create a more detailed picture of the evolutionary tree of life. Microbial dark matter refers to an enormous number of microbes that can't be grown in the laboratory. Consequently, their biology and genetics have been a mystery to science. Now, a new technology called single cell genome sequencing has allowed scientists in this study to uncover the genomes of 29 groups of these microbes.