Despite its potential, microbiome profiling faces several challenges:
- Complexity of Microbial Communities: The human microbiome is incredibly diverse, making it difficult to capture and interpret all relevant species. - Variations in Methodology: Differences in sample collection, DNA extraction, and sequencing protocols can lead to inconsistent results. - Data Interpretation: Correlation does not imply causation; distinguishing between mere associations and causal relationships is complex. - Ethical Considerations: Ensuring privacy and informed consent when handling genetic data is paramount.
