It is easy now to sequence DNA from single bacteria or whole communities, but still hard to go from sequence to an understanding of the life processes at work. But extensive collections of complete genomes now make it possible to extract information, find and describe novel systems and pathways, and generate informed hypotheses that will accelerate discovery in microbiology. Our research goal is to harness comparative genomics as a partner to experimentation, to help us better understand bacterial roles in human health, natural products biosynthesis, and environmental and industrial processes.