Molecular characterization of the human microbiome from a reproductive perspective  Amir Mor, M.D., Ph.D., Paul H. Driggers, Ph.D., James H. Segars, M.D.  Fertility and Sterility  Volume 104, Issue 6, Pages 1344-1350 (December 2015) DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.10.008 Copyright © 2015 Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 Common molecular biology techniques used to characterize microbiome diversity and function. The two major pathways are the analysis of specific genomic regions or the whole extracted genome (black boxes). The appropriate pathway is determined by the scientific/clinical question. The analysis of specific genomic regions is usually the cost-effective and rapid pathway. The common techniques are depicted by the gray boxes. aTargeted amplification is done by using specific primers. Selected regions of coding genes, or noncoding regions such as variable number tandem repeat, are amplified. bFor example, sequencing of selected conserved and hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Fertility and Sterility 2015 104, 1344-1350DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.10.008) Copyright © 2015 Terms and Conditions