Metagenomics and biological ontology

摘要: Metagenomics is an emerging microbial systems science that based on the large-scale analysis of DNA communities in their natural environments. Studies metagenomes are revealing vast scope biodiversity a wide range environments, as well new functional capacities individual cells and communities, complex evolutionary relationships between them. Our examination this focuses ontological implications these studies metaorganisms, what they mean for common sense philosophical understandings multicellularity, individuality organism. We show how metagenomics requires us to think different ways about human beings relation world is. could also transform way which processes understood, with most basic relationship from both similar organisms being far more cooperative less antagonistic than widely assumed. In addition raising fundamental questions biological ontology, generates possibilities powerful technologies addressed issues climate, health conservation. conclude reflections process-oriented versus entity-oriented light current trends towards approaches.