Both natural and synthetic chemicals select for microorganisms that respond
to them or transform them. Complex organic compounds are recycled back to
CO2 by microbial oxidation reactions. These reactions are as diverse as the
chemical compounds that are their targets, so that a total compilation of the
global recycling of all organic compounds by all individual bacterial species is
clearly beyond our current capacity to fully document. However, as in all fields
of complex knowledge, it is possible to discern patterns and commonalities on
which generalizations can be based. These generalizations, used wisely, will
reveal the fundamental principles of microbial ecology. Industrial applications
based on this knowledge will inevitably follow, and early indicators predict
that an exciting expansion of technology will be possible.