What are the two key diversity metrics established by foundational sequencing tools?
Answer
Alpha diversity and beta diversity
Foundational tools developed for analyzing 16S rRNA gene sequencing data established critical metrics that quantify microbial diversity. Alpha diversity is the measure of diversity within a single, isolated sample, indicating the richness and evenness of the community present in that specific specimen. Conversely, beta diversity is utilized to compare and contrast different samples, quantifying the overall differences or similarities in community structure found between two or more distinct microbial populations. These two metrics became indispensable benchmarks for assessing community structure across various studies.
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