Complex sentence: Genetically identical cells in different conditions and environments can use different metabolic pathways to sustain themselves, and by measuring the metabolites present, scientists can infer the metabolic pathways used, and infer useful information about the state of the cell.
Split into simpler sentences: Genetically identical cells in different conditions and environments can use different metabolic pathways to sustain themselves. By measuring the metabolites present, scientists can infer the metabolic pathways used, and infer useful information about the state of the cell.