99% of microbes from most environments are uncultivable

[Guest guest]

" It has been known for over half a century that 99% of all microbial

species from most environments are uncultivable and as such largely

unavailable to scientists. Attempts to culture more species in the lab

by manipulating growth media were unsuccessful. The riddle of

uncultivable microorganisms has been recognized as the main challenge

for basic and applied research in microbiology by the American Society

for Microbiology (Young, 1997). "

Kim Lews, his web page

http://www.biology.neu.edu/faculty03/lewis03.html