New genomic method reveals hidden diversity in ocean microbes and viruses

A new genomic method significantly enhances the ability to study individual ocean microbes and viruses, revealing previously hidden diversity. The technique, environmental microcompartment genomics, allows for faster, more efficient, and cost-effective sequencing of thousands of individual particles from tiny water samples. This advancement promises to unlock new discoveries about the vast and complex microbial world, particularly for studying viruses of all sizes.