A PhD Student travelled from Windhoek to the Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria during the last two week of October 2019, to carry out a DNA extraction experiment. The aim of the experiment was to extract DNA from soil samples, which will be sequenced to determine taxonomic and functional diversity of soil microbial communities in plant hummock and bare ground soils. Soil microbial communities are key players in the ecosystem, particularly, playing an influential role in mediating key ecosystem functions such as litter decomposition, mineralization of nutrients, primary production as well as carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. DNA sequencing will be done using metagenomics approaches, which will allow us an opportunity for a deeper exploration of relevant biological questions in microbial ecology such as “who are the members of the community?” and “what are their functional roles in the community? DNA was extracted from 28 soil samples and its integrity was verified in the agarose gel.

Abstract: Plant influences on soil biogeochemistry and taxonomic and functional diversity of soil microbial communities in a hyper-arid desert

Author(s): Elise Nghalipo