Molecular Approaches to Microbial Identification of Industrially Significant Strains

Microbial identification is an important technique in industrial microbiology and biotechnology for detecting and utilizing microorganisms with significant biotechnological potential. These techniques help in studying the functional potential and metabolic capabilities of microorganisms, which are crucial in the advancement of innumerable industrial processes. Traditional microbial identification methods, which depend on phenotypic and biochemical characteristics, have been replaced by the fusion of modern molecular techniques due to their high accuracy, speed, and unparalleled precision. These molecular approaches have revolutionized the field of life sciences, providing deep insights into microbial diversity, functionality, and potential applications in various industries, and have greatly accelerated the development of biotechnological processes such as biofuel production, bioremediation, pharmaceuticals, etc. The book chapter provides an overview of these molecular approaches to identify industrially important microbes and their applications in industry.