Overview of SLiM and msprime

SLiM: Forward Genetic Simulator

SLiM is a free, open-source tool designed for forward genetic simulations. It allows researchers to model complex evolutionary scenarios, including selection, recombination, and demographic events, making it particularly useful for studying adaptation and selection in populations.

Key Features of SLiM:

• Simulates population evolution forward in time

• Supports custom evolutionary models using an embedded scripting language

• Allows modeling of spatial and ecological dynamics

• Provides high flexibility and extensibility for user-defined scenarios

• Available on GitHub as an open-source project

msprime: Ancestry and Mutation Simulator

msprime is an efficient, open-source tool that simulates ancestry and mutations using a coalescent framework. It is known for its high-speed performance and low memory requirements, making it a popular choice for large-scale genomic simulations.

Key Features of msprime:

• Implements coalescent simulations for ancestry modeling

• Efficiently simulates large population histories

• Supports the addition of mutations to genealogies

• Developed using an open-source community model

• Often faster and more memory-efficient than alternative simulators

Using SLiM and msprime with slendr

Both SLiM and msprime can be integrated with slendr, a framework that facilitates structured population genetic simulations. This integration allows for seamless comparison of simulation outputs.

How They Work Together:

• SLiM and msprime simulations can be analyzed within slendr.

• The ts_read() function in slendr enables loading and comparing tree sequence outputs from both simulators.

• This integration allows researchers to validate simulation results and gain deeper insights into evolutionary processes.

Performance Considerations

While SLiM offers powerful forward simulations with extensive customization, msprime is often preferred for its speed and memory efficiency when simulating ancestry and mutations. The choice between the two depends on the research goals:

• For detailed evolutionary modeling with selection and recombination: Use SLiM.

• For large-scale coalescent simulations with mutations: Use msprime.

• For comparing different simulation models and their outputs: Use slendr to integrate SLiM and msprime results.

Conclusion

SLiM and msprime are valuable tools for genome simulation, each serving distinct but complementary purposes in population genetics research. By leveraging the strengths of both simulators with slendr, researchers can conduct robust and efficient evolutionary simulations, enhancing our understanding of genetic diversity and adaptation.

For more information, check out the official GitHub repositories for SLiM and msprime, and explore the slendr framework for streamlined simulation workflow

WALK IN INTERVIEW

A walk-in Interview for the following position tenable at the Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility (BIF), Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University will be held at the Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630 003 on 15.05.2014 (Thursday) at 01:00 PM. This national facility is funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi. The main objectives of the Centre involve teaching and research activities in bioinformatics/biotechnology.

RA (One Post):

Salary : Rs. 11000 p.m. plus admissible HRA

Qualification: M.Sc., in Bioinformatics/Biotechnology/Biophysics/Biochemistry/ Life Sciences

Interested candidates are encouraged to send their Curriculum Vitae by email to “sk_pandian@rediffmail.com” in advance. On the day of interview, the candidates must produce original certificates in proof of their educational qualification and experience and a recommendation letter from the Head of the Department/Institution where last studied/worked. Candidates who have already passed the required Degree alone are eligible to appear for interview. No TA&DA will be given for attending the interview.

Advertisement: http://www.alagappabiotech.org/Walk%20in%20interview.pdf

However, pangenome graphs can be highly complex, making them difficult to visualize and interpret. A recent study published in BMC Bioinformatics introduces PG2 (PanGenoGrapher), an open-source, web-based tool designed to address this challenge. The source code and user guide are openly available on GitHub at https://github.com/iVis-at-Bilkent/pangenographer. A publicly accessible sample deployment is hosted at http://pg2.cs.bilkent.edu.tr. In addition, a demonstration video illustrating the primary use cases of PG2 is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCd7-aGY6CQ.

PG2 combines advanced graph-layout algorithms with an interactive visualization platform. It allows researchers to explore genomic paths, identify variations, and examine relationships between different parts of a pangenome graph more easily.

This is important because visualization can play a major role in bioinformatics. When complex genomic information is presented clearly, researchers can more easily identify patterns, understand genetic variation, and generate new biological insights.

The development of PG2 represents a step toward making pangenome analysis more accessible and intuitive. As genomic datasets continue to grow and graph-based representations become more common, tools like PG2 can help researchers navigate this increasing complexity.

Ultimately, PG2 demonstrates how combining genomics, graph algorithms, and interactive visualization can make sophisticated biological data easier to understand and analyze.

Reference: Solun, G. K., Dogrusoz, U., Bingöl, Z., & Alkan, C. (2026). PG2: algorithms and a web-based tool for effective layout and visual analysis of pangenome graphs. BMC Bioinformatics. DOI: 10.1186/s12859-026-06555-4.

Pay scale: Pay Band of Rs. 37400-67000 with AGP of Rs. 9000.

i. Educational Qualification: Good academic record with a Ph.D. Degree in the concerned/allied/relevant disciplines.

ii. A Master's Degree with at least 55% marks (or an equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed).

iii. A minimum of eight years of experience of teaching and/or research in an academic/research position equivalent to that of Assistant Professor in a University, College or Accredited Research Institution/industry excluding the period of Ph.D. research with evidence of published work and a minimum of 5 publications as books and/or research/policy papers.

iv. Contribution to educational innovation, design of new curricula and courses, and technology - mediated teaching learning process with evidence of having guided doctoral candidates and research students.

v. A minimum score as stipulated in the Academic Performance Indicator (API) based Performance Based Appraisal System (PBAS), set out in UGC Regulation.

Download application form from website: http://www.allduniv.ac.in/

Send your application to the Registrar, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211002 (U.P.) on or before 30th April 2014

For more details: http://www.allduniv.ac.in/images/adv/backlog/advt-details.pdf OR http://www.allduniv.ac.in/images/news/extension-notice.pdf

Last Apply Date: 30 May 2014

Address of the bookmark: https://github.com/CSB5/INC-Seq

How to use TAREAN:

• Install a local instance of the pipeline using its source code available from bitbucket repository.
• Use  public Galaxy-based server at https://repeatexplorer-elixir.cerit-sc.cz/. The server is provided in frame of the Elixir CZ project and is maintained by CESNET and CERIT-SC. Simple registration is required to use this service.

Development of TAREAN was supported by ELIXIR CZ research infrastructure project (MEYS Grant No: LM2015047).

References

Novak, P., Avila Robledillo, L., Koblizkova, A., Vrbova, I., Neumann, P., Macas, J. (2017) – TAREAN: a computational tool for identification and characterization of satellite DNA from unassembled short reads. Nucleic Acids Res., doi:10.1093/nar/gkx257

Address of the bookmark: https://bitbucket.org/petrnovak/repex_tarean

1. Cancer Genomics

2. Microbial Genetics and Metagenomics

3. Human Infective Diseases

4. Computational Drug Design

Interested candidates may apply to Dr. Ranjith N. Kumavath, Assistant Professor & Head, Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Padannakad (PO), Nileshwar, Kasaragod-671328,Kerala. Email: RNkumavath@gmail.com

The tutorial is divided in three main parts:

• In the Sequence part, you will see how to look efficiently for a particular protein sequence, how to blast it against the database of your choice to find homologues, how to perform a multiple alignment of the homologues you've selected and how to edit this alignment.
• The Structure part is about molecular visualization, homology modeling and structural domain prediction.
• In the Function part, you will be introduced to you 3 useful servers to investigate the function of a protein. i.e. finding interactors, co-expressed genes, see a phylogenetic profile, easily access papers citing your gene etc ...

During all the three parts, we will use the S. cerevisiae VPS36 protein as an example.

Address of the bookmark: http://www.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/rlw/text/bioinfo_tuto/introduction.html