ReviewMicrobial genomics2026
An ode to the 16S rRNA gene: its history, importance, caveats and future in microbiome research.
Review in Microbial genomics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
Abstract
The 16S rRNA gene has - and continues to - play an important role in microbiology. It's universality across prokaryotes and variation across species has allowed the sequencing of its hypervariable regions to be used to distinguish taxa within complex mixed bacterial communities. Although 16S rRNA gene sequencing has transformed our understanding of microbial communities, its use comes with important caveats and considerations, especially in light of the availability of whole-genome metagenomic sequencing. Within, we discuss the 16S rRNA gene and its important role in microbiome research, in the past, present, and future.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.