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. 2019 Jan;12(1):26-29.
doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.13262. Epub 2018 Apr 2.

A vision for a 'microbcentric' future

Ricardo Cavicchioli  1
Affiliations

A vision for a 'microbcentric' future

Ricardo Cavicchioli. Microb Biotechnol. 2019 Jan.

Abstract

Microbes are the most abundant lifeforms on the planet and perform functions critical for all other life to exist. Environmental 'omic' technologies provide the capacity to discover the 'what, how and why' of indigenous species. However, in order to accurately interpret this data, sound conceptual frameworks are required. Here I argue that our understanding of microbes will advance much more effectively if we adopt a microbcentric, and not anthropocentric view of the world.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Seeing a microbcentric view of the world. The figure was constructed by modifying images obtained from Google images that linked to images distributed across numerous web sites including Filter‐Forge (https://filterforge.com).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Castelle, C.J. , and Banfield, J.F. (2018) Major new microbial groups expand diversity and alter our understanding of the tree of life. Cell 172: 1181–1197. - PubMed
    1. Cavicchioli, R. (2002) Extremophiles and the search for extra‐terrestrial life. Astrobiology 2: 281–292. - PubMed
    1. Cavicchioli, R. (2016) On the concept of a psychrophile. ISME J 10: 793–795. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cavicchioli, R. , Amils, R. , Wagner, D. , and McGenity, T. (2011a) Life and applications of extremophiles. Environ Microbiol 13: 1903–1907. - PubMed
    1. Cavicchioli, R. , Charlton, T. , Ertan, H. , Mohd Omar, S. , Siddiqui, K.S. , and Williams, T.J. (2011b) Biotechnological uses of enzymes from psychrophiles. Microb Biotechnol 4: 449–460. - PMC - PubMed

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