In this lecture we'll find out about how we study all those bacteria that are lurking in our gut. Or elsewhere in our belly or even out there in the environment. First we'll take a look at how this is done historically. Up until pretty recently when new sequencing technologies transformed everything. Traditionally, the study of microbes, or microbiology, focused on visualization techniques like microscopy. And being able to grow microbes in isolation in the laboratory. Or in other words, culturing them. However, now we can use what are called culture independent techniques, primarily using DNA in addition to microscopy and culturing. And using DNA gives us a much, much more accurate understanding of microbial communities. Because we can see everything, not just what we can grow in the laboratory. In this lecture we have the privilege of hearing from one of the pioneers of environmental microbiology, Professor Norm Pace. What he's going to do is he'll take us through history and tell us where the research began, and some of the revolutionary advances that brought us to where we are today.