Determining the effect of active molecules or external factors on living organisms
Studying the impact of an environment on a biological community
In many scientific contexts, it is necessary to evaluate the influence that an active molecule, an experimental treatment, or an environmental factor can have on organisms present in a given medium.
Certain chemical substances, variations in physical conditions, or environmental disturbances can modify the composition of a biological community.
Genetic analysis then makes it possible to observe these changes by studying the organisms present in a sample before or after exposure to the factor under study.
This approach is particularly used to analyze the effect of a treatment on a microbiome, or to understand how an environment influences the biological diversity of an ecosystem.
In which contexts should this type of analysis be performed?
The study of the impact of external factors on living organisms can be carried out in various types of projects, for example to:
- analyze the biological consequences of an active molecule or a chemical compound,
- observe the effect of an environmental change on a community of organisms,
- compare the biological diversity of a medium before and after experimental exposure,
- study the response of a microbial population to a specific constraint.
These analyses provide a better understanding of how an organism or a biological community reacts to a change in its environment.
A strategy adapted to each study
The analysis of the impact of an external factor on living organisms depends on several parameters:
- the type of molecule or factor studied,
- the nature of the medium analyzed (water, soil, living organism, etc.),
- the number of samples to be compared,
- the desired precision in species identification.
Based on these elements, different analytical approaches can be combined to obtain a precise view of the modifications observed in the biological community under study.
How to analyze the impact of an external factor?
The study of these effects is based on the analysis of the genetic material present in a sample. The organisms present in the sample can be identified and compared to highlight the changes that appeared after the exposure under study.
Microbiome analysis
Microbiome analysis makes it possible to identify the species present in a medium and evaluate their relative abundance.
By comparing several samples, it becomes possible to observe the variations in biological diversity induced by a molecule or an environmental factor.
Genetic amplification and detection
Gene amplification techniques, such as PCR or qPCR, allow for the targeting of certain DNA sequences to detect or quantify specific organisms in a sample.
High-throughput sequencing
NGS sequencing approaches allow for the simultaneous analysis of a large number of genetic fragments from a complex sample.
This method is particularly suitable for studying the evolution of entire biological communities.
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