omics
Omics encompasses large-scale approaches that simultaneously measure entire sets of biological molecules—such as genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes—to build comprehensive pictures of how organisms function. In plant science, these tools allow researchers to decode complex traits like drought tolerance, disease resistance, and crop yield at a systems level rather than gene by gene. By integrating multiple omics layers, plant biologists can uncover the molecular networks that govern growth, development, and responses to environmental stress.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-05-06
This minireview surveys the molecular and bioinformatic tools used to study the oral microbiome — the community of bacteria, fungi, and protists living in the human mouth — and highlights key databases that catalog this microbial diversity. It covers sequencing techniques and omics approaches that help researchers link specific microbes to dental disease and oral cancer.
16S rRNA gene sequencing is the primary method for profiling bacterial species in the oral cavity, including pathogens linked to cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer.
18S rRNA gene sequencing complements bacterial analysis by revealing fungal and protist members of the oral microbiome, including parasites.
Dedicated databases such as the Human Oral Microbiome Database (HOMD) and Oral Microbiome Database (OMD) provide curated reference data that accelerate community-level research.