Assigning Function to Phylogeny: MAR-FISH.

Microautoradiography (MAR) is a technique by which assimilated radioactive tracers incorporated into the biomass can be detected by a film emulsion. This allows for the testing of cellular preferences in electron donors and acceptors of individual cells in complex microbial assemblages, as well as the ability to take up substrates under diverse environmental exposures.Combination with staining techniques such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can be used to identify the involved cells. Here, the practical aspects of a combined microautoradiography and fluorescence in situ hybridization (MAR-FISH) approach are described.