Interested in Soil Ecology and Biogeochemistry?
Gain an integrated perspective with world-renowned faculty to address critical questions using current analytical techniques, experimental approaches, and instructional models.  Topics include:
• What are the physical, chemical and biological components of soil?
• What do molecular techniques tell us about soil biodiversity?
• How does soil chemistry affect carbon and nutrient cycling?
• [...]

I’ve had the great pleasure of working directly with this week’s featured scientist, Bradley Tolar. I met Bradley at the ISME conference in 2010 and was intrigued by all of the exciting marine microbiology work under study in the Hollibaugh lab at the University of Georgia.  Since then we’ve been collaborating on projects together.  One of  them involves evaluating [...]

As we’ve discussed before, the labs participating in the Human Microbiome Project  (HMP) and now the Earth Microbiome Project (EMP) use the PowerSoil DNA Isolation Kit for extraction of DNA from difficult samples because of the increased performance of the DNA in sensitive enzymatic applications.  Human samples from the gut/stool, surface of the skin, and mouth as well as [...]

Corals are an essential part of a healthy reef ecosystem, providing the biological and structural framework upon which other reef organisms depend. Corals are declining on a global scale due to anthropogenic disturbances and disease. Although many coral diseases have been attributed to microbial pathogens, we now know that corals harbor diverse microbial communities during [...]

MO BIO recently launched a method for the isolation of DNA and RNA from a very difficult sample type called biofilm. In a previous article, we explained some of the difficulties associated with working with biofilm and biomats. These sample types are not like any other environmental sample and require specialized chemistry to break through the EPS [...]

We receive many calls from scientists isolating DNA from fecal samples, so I thought I’d share some tips on what we’re currently recommending for stool.
Stool is a rich microbial habitat that has a unique community to each individual.   The variation in stool samples is caused by many factors. Diet can play a major role in composition and texture. Stool taken [...]

As the U.S. struggles with the after effects of the oil spill on tourism, animal health, and food safety due to the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history, microbiologists are stuggling to determine the scope of damage to microbial diversity in the ocean water and sediment.
The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig on April 20th, 2010 that resulted in the [...]

In a previous article, we reviewed a paper that investigated the microbial communities living in showerhead biofilms coming from the municipal water supply. This week, we’ll take another look at what’s living in municipal drinking water and this time in Phoenix, Arizona.  This new 2010 paper from the Journal of Environmental Quality takes a close look at the [...]

‘Tis the season to be jolly and at MO BIO Labs, we are a merry crew.  A lighthearted and cheerful atmosphere permeates our halls all year round but it is especially strong during the holiday season.  As we look back on our accomplishments in 2009, with products such as PowerWater, PowerFood, and LifeGuard, we are thankful to all [...]

One of the most difficult sample types we work with in our labs is soil. When developing products and methods for isolation of microbial DNA and RNA from soil, we have to take into account the wide diversity of soils in regards to their organic content, texture, pH, and where the soil was collected. These [...]