What is metatranscriptomics?

Metatranscriptomics is the study of the total RNA, or the transcriptome, of a microbial community. It provides insights into the actively expressed genes and metabolic processes occurring in a specific environment at a given time. It is commonly used to understand the functional roles of microorganisms in various ecosystems, such as soil, oceans, and the human gut, and to identify genes involved in specific processes like nutrient cycling, pollutant degradation, or disease.