They are critically important in sustaining life on our planet. Microbes are roots of life's family tree. They will help us understand how more complex genomes developed. Microbes generate at least half the oxygen we breathe. Microbial studies will help us define the entire repertoire of organisms in specialized niches and, ultimately, the mechanisms by which they interact in the biosphere.
Microbes offer unusual capabilities reflecting the diversity of their environmental niches.
These may prove to be useful as a source of new genes and organisms of value in addressing bioremediation, global change, biotechnology, and energy production. Microbial communities are excellent models for understanding biological interactions and evolution. Diversity patterns of microorganisms can be used for monitoring and predicting environmental change. Most microbes do not cause disease. The online presentation of this publication is a special feature of the Human Genome Project Information Web site .