Pace等于1986年首次利用rRNA基因确定环境样品中的微生物,通过对5SrRNA基因的序列分析来研究微生物的生态和进化。该方法很快被用于微生物多样性研究领域。由于5SrRNA基因相对较小,携带信息相对较少,因而揭示微生物群落多样性的能力有限。相比之下,随后开展的16SrRNA基因序列分析为微生物多样性研究提供了更多信息, Pace et al. First used the rRNA gene in 1986 to identify microorganisms in environmental samples and studied the ecology and evolution of microorganisms by sequence analysis of 5S rRNA genes. This method is quickly used in the field of microbial diversity. Because 5SrRNAs are relatively small and carry less information, their ability to reveal microbial community diversity is limited. In contrast, subsequent 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis provides more information on microbial diversity research,