Section I. Tools for Functional Metagenomics -- Prologue -- 1) Next-generation sequencing in Functional Metagenomics -- 2) Cloning systems -- 3) Expression systems -- 4) Hosts for heterologous expression -- 5) Bioinformatic tools for functional metagenomics -- 6) Screening and selection for expressed functions -- 7) Synthetic biology approaches for functional metagenomics -- Section II. Applications in Functional Metagenomics -- 8) Enzyme discovery -- 9) Metabolite discovery -- 10) C substrate utilization (with SIP) -- 11) Genome Assembly and Functional Annotation -- 12) Aquatic ecosystems -- 13) Terrestrial ecosystems -- 14) Aeromicrobiology -- 15) Animal microbiomes -- 16) Human microbiomes -- 17) Plant microbiomes -- 18) Biofilms -- 19) Extreme environments -- 20) Wastewater -- 21) Food microbiology -- Epilogue: Future prospects in functional metagenomics.

In this book, the latest tools available for functional metagenomics research are described.This research enables scientists to directly access the genomes from diverse microbial genomes at one time and study these "metagenomes". Using the modern tools of genome sequencing and cloning, researchers have now been able to harness this astounding metagenomic diversity to understand and exploit the diverse functions of microorganisms. Leading scientists from around the world demonstrate how these approaches have been applied in many different settings, including aquatic and terrestrial habitats, microbiomes, and many more environments. This is a highly informative and carefully presented book, providing microbiologists with a summary of the latest functional metagenomics literature on all specific habitat.