Microbial Insights, Inc. (MI) is an environmental biotechnology company specializing in the development and application of cutting edge molecular biological tools (MBTs) to describe and quantify microbial communities. MI is dedicated to providing superior genetic and chemical diagnostic tools to aid our clients in understanding and managing biological processes ranging from bioremediation of chlorinated hydrocarbons to biofilm formation in drinking water systems.

During the last 10-15 years, the use of nucleic acid based methods (DNA and RNA), most notably quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), has grown substantially in the environmental restoration industry. The reasons for this enthusiasm are simple: DNA can be extracted directly from groundwater, soil, or sediment samples avoiding the biases associated with traditional cultivation techniques (plate counts) and qPCR assays quantify specific bacteria (i.e. dehalococcoides) or specific biological processes responsible for contaminant biodegradation providing a more direct, accurate, and sensitive method to evaluate bioremediation as a corrective action.