16S ribosomal RNA

16S ribosomal RNA is the RNA component of the small ribosomal subunit in bacteria and archaea. Its conserved and variable gene regions make it widely useful for identifying microbes and comparing their evolutionary relationships.

30S ribosomal subunit: The small ribosomal subunit of bacteria and archaea, composed of 16S ribosomal RNA and proteins. 16S ribosomal RNA forms the structural and functional core of this subunit.
16S rRNA gene sequencing: Sequencing of the gene encoding 16S ribosomal RNA to identify and compare bacteria and archaea. This is the principal practical use of the molecule's gene variation.
18S ribosomal RNA: The small-subunit ribosomal RNA found in eukaryotes, used as a marker for eukaryotic microbes. It serves a similar identification role for eukaryotes, rather than bacteria and archaea.
Carl Woese: An American microbiologist who used ribosomal RNA comparisons to reveal the distinct domain Archaea. His comparative work established ribosomal RNA as evidence for deep microbial relationships.
Horizontal gene transfer: The movement of genetic material between organisms other than by parent-to-offspring inheritance. It can complicate the assumption that a marker gene always follows organismal ancestry.
Ribosome: A molecular complex that translates messenger RNA into proteins. The 16S molecule performs its cellular role as part of a ribosome.
16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing: A targeted sequencing method that amplifies selected regions of the 16S rRNA gene across microbial samples. It turns selected variable regions into a scalable survey of mixed communities.
Internal transcribed spacer: A variable DNA region between ribosomal RNA genes, widely used to identify fungi. Its greater variation often distinguishes fungi more finely than 16S distinguishes bacteria.
George E. Fox: An American microbiologist who collaborated with Carl Woese on early ribosomal RNA comparisons. His work helped develop the sequence-based framework that made 16S comparisons influential.
Primer bias: Unequal amplification of DNA templates caused by differences in primer matching or reaction conditions. 16S primers may underrepresent lineages whose gene regions match them poorly.

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