The New Science of MetagenomicsThe New Science of Metagenomics Although we can't usually see them, microbes are essential for every part of human lifeindeed all life on Earth. The emerging field of metagenomics offers a new way of exploring the microbial world that will transform modern microbiology and lead to practical applications in medicine, agriculture, alternative energy, environmental remediation, and many others areas. Metagenomics allows researchers to look at the genomes