Which of the Following Techniques Can Link Prokaryotic Phylogeny and Metabolic

Question

Which of the following techniques can link prokaryotic phylogeny and metabolic function?
A) DAPI staining
B) stable isotope probing only
C) environmental genomics only
D) environmental genomics and stable isotope probing

Accepted Answer

Both environmental genomics and stable isotope probing can be used to investigate prokaryotic phylogeny and metabolic function. Environmental genomics can identify the genetic makeup of microbial communities, including the presence of genes involved in specific metabolic pathways. Stable isotope probing can be used to trace the activity of specific metabolic pathways by labeling substrates with stable isotopes and monitoring their incorporation into microbial biomass. Together, these techniques can provide insights into the relationships between prokaryotic phylogeny and metabolic function. DAPI staining does not provide information on metabolic function, and stable isotope probing alone may not fully capture the phylogenetic diversity of a microbial community.