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What is Aerial Metagenomics?

Aerial Metagenomics

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Summary of Aerial Metagenomics

Aerial metagenomics is a groundbreaking approach to studying microbial DNA in the air. Unlike traditional methods, it eliminates the need for isolating species and enables rapid and efficient pathogen surveillance. It has far reaching consequences for fields such as such as environmental pollution study, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, evolutionary biology, diagnostics, forensic science, and molecular biology.

Metagenomics is when genome sequencing is done in natural habitat of the organism, instead of studying its culture in a lab.

Aerial metagenomics means study of DNA of organisms in their natural habitat through samples collected from the air. This is because aerosols or airborne particles contain microbial communities which contain traces of DNA of various organisms.

Through Aerial Metagenomics wide range of microorganisms can be detected including Bacteria, Virus, Fungi, pollen etc.

Traditional Metagenomics typically focuses on analyzing microbial communities in soil, water, or the human body while Aerial Metagenomics targets airborne microorganisms and particles.

Background of Aerial Metagenomics

Genome sequencing is the practice of studying the genetic composition of organisms. This genetic material is contained in the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). DNA is made up of biological building blocks called nucleotides. The information in DNA is stored as a code made up of four chemical bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). Sequencing of DNA means determining the order of these four chemical building blocks. The order determines the information available for building and maintaining an organism like about reproduction, functioning and growth. This is usually done by isolating each organism and studying it in labs. However this is a very time consuming, intensive, prone to error process. As the COVID 19 pandemic affected the world, it became harder to use the traditional sequencing methods. Hence there was need for new techniques and aerial metagenomics brought a paradigm shift in how we identify, monitor, and respond to emerging pathogens.

Introduction of Aerial Metagenomics

Metagenomics is when genome sequencing is done in natural habitat of the organism, instead of studying its culture in a lab. And aerial metagenomics means study of DNA of organisms in their natural habitat through samples collected from the air. This is because aerosols or airborne particles contain microbial communities which contain traces of DNA of various organisms. While, in the past, studying ecosystems for signs of change has needed lots of boots on the ground even then it was hard to track animal genomics, while plants were simpler. This is where aerial metagenomics comes in and has revolutionised the study of nature.

About The Features of Aerial Metagenomics

  • Effective pathogen surveillance due to improved accuracy, speed and large data processing enabling complete genomesequencing within matter of days as well.
  • Direct sequencing without culture and sample testing. Can be deployed without prior knowledge of infection causing organism.
  • Easy: traditionally,sequencing methods require isolating a species which is a challenging task in itself.
  • Established complex connections: to understand interaction of microbes and their impact on each other.
  • Widen Horizons: now diverse ecosystems which were never studied before can be explored like hot springs and gut microbe due to ease of accessing these microbial communities.

Impact of Aerial Metagenomics in Various Fields

  • Environmental Pollution Study & Bioremediation: Detect microbes which harm the environment. We can also track microbes which have the ability to degrade pollutants and toxic compounds and can be useful for bioremediation.
  • Pharmaceutical: Unprecedented samples and data through aerial metagenomics boosts research and innovation leading to discovery of new drugs and chemical compounds.
  • Agriculture: Optimize nutrient cycling and enhance crop productivity.
  • Evolutionary biology: A study in Nigeria was done to rapidly study fever like symptoms in patients and revealed pestisicde poisoning. Aerial Metagenomics was helpful in detection, diagnosis and even planning response to the outbreak. They even discovered new viruses affecting human health.
  • Diagnostics: For Avian flu and other rapid diseases among animals which spread seasonaly.
  • Forensic Science: The comprehensive DNA analysis can improve accuracy of detecting.
  • Molecular Biology: Study impact of microbial environment in evolution of ecosystems and organisms at a large scale.

Conclusion for Aerial Metagenomics

Aerial metagenomics,studying airborne microbes’ DNA, emerges as a powerful weapon for future pandemic preparedness. Through this we get a panoramic view of microbial communities across vast distances. It can even monitor key animal species which are on the move (e.g. migratory birds). It will help detect zoonotic diseases which will spill over human populations. This allows for early pathogen identification and impact assessment, enabling swift public health measures and targeted response strategies. This extends beyond immediate threats, enabling innovation due to the high amounts of data processed.
Looking ahead, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms in the analysis of metagenomic data holds immense potential for predictive modeling and forecasting, enhancing our ability to anticipate and mitigate the threats posed by evolving pathogens.

Prelims PYQS Of What is Aerial Metagenomics?

1) At present, scientists can determine the arrangement or relative positions of genes or DNA sequences on a chromosome. How does this knowledge benefit us?

1. It is possible to know the pedigree of livestock.
2. It is possible to understand the causes of all human diseases
3. It is possible to develop disease resistant animal breeds.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1,2 and 3

Correct Answer :(C) 1 and 3 only
2) ‘Aerial metagenomics’ best refers to which one of the following situations?
(a) Collecting DNA samples from air in a habitat at one go
(b) Understanding the genetic makeup of avian species of a habitat
(c) Using air-borne devices to collect blood samples from moving animals
(d) Sending drones to inaccessible areas to collect plant and animal samples from land surfaces and water bodies

Correct Answer :(A) Collecting DNA samples from air in a habitat at one go

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