Unlocking the potential of metagenomics through replicated experimental design

Metagenomics holds enormous promise for discovering novel enzymes and organisms that are biomarkers or causes of processes relevant to disease, industry and the environment. In the last two years we have seen a paradigm shift in metagenomics to the application of broad cross-sectional and longitudinal studies enabled by advances in DNA sequencing and high-performance computing. These technologies now make it possible to broadly assess microbial diversity and function, allowing systematic investigation of the largely unexplored frontier of microbial life. To achieve this aim, the global scientific community must collaborate and agree upon common objectives and data standards to enable comparative research across the Earth’s microbiome. Improvements in comparability of data will facilitate the study of biotechnologically relevant processes such as bioprospecting for new glycoside hydrolases or identifying novel energy sources.