Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs).
Introduction Operational Taxonomic Units, or OTUs, are a fundamental concept in the field of microbial ecology and bioinformatics. They serve as a proxy for species or groups of organisms when studying the diversity and composition of microbial communities. Given the complexity and vast diversity of microorganisms, OTUs provide a practical approach to classify and analyze these communities. This article delves into what OTUs are, how they are used in research, and their significance in understanding microbial ecosystems. What are Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs)? OTUs are clusters of organisms, often microorganisms like bacteria, archaea, or fungi, that are grouped together based on sequence similarity of specific genetic markers, typically the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and archaea, or the ITS region for fungi. Instead of relying on traditional taxonomic classifications, which can be difficult due to the immense diversity and lack of comprehensive species descriptions, OTUs are define…
