Why Measure the Nucleic Acids (DNA and RNA)?
Traditional studies on soil microorganisms utilised a culture-based approach typically involving the transfer of soil crumbs containing millions of organisms onto a nutrient rich agar plate. Following incubation over 7-10 days perhaps a few thousand of these organisms finally grew. These isolates were then examined and characterised. These experiments formed the basis of our knowledge and understanding of soil microorganisms. However these organisms typically represent less than 1% of the total population of the soil. In addition it was impossible to determine the importance of these organisms in situ. Fortunately, through the development and application of molecular biology to soil microbial ecology throughout the 1990s, we now no longer have to rely solely on culture-based approaches. Modern soil microbiology involves the use of universal biomarkers of soil microorganisms, e.g. ATP, DNA, RNA, fatty acids. All living organisms contain DNA which differs from DNA in closely related spec
