BOL: Related items

Job offer for a postdoctoral researcher in genomics / bioinformatics (2 years)

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 04:44:33 -0500

Ongoing research in the group of Karine Van Doninck involves topics at the core of
evolutionary biology, including the evolution of sex, genome maintenance,
recombination and extreme stress resistance on different eukaryotic systems,
including rotifers, amoeba and Corbicula clams. We are employing different tools
(including experimental ecology, population genetics, phylogeny, comparative
genomics, transcriptomics, bioinformatics, molecular and cellular biology) to study
evolutionary processes at the level of populations, both experimental and natural, and
genomes.

Offer
We offer a full-time contract for two years. The contract starts between October 2021
and December 2021. The position involves no or extremely light teaching load, if the
candidate is interested. Salaries are competitive at the European level. The recruited
person will benefit from the Belgian social insurance scheme (health care, etc.) without
additional expenses.

Profile
Applicants are expected to show outstanding commitment to research and must have
obtained a PhD by the start of the position. A strong expertise in genomics is required.
More specifically, solid competences in bioinformatics (e.g. scripting pipelines) and in
genome evolution are needed. Knowledge or interest regarding recombination,
metazoan evolution, phylogenomics and population genomics is an added-value.

Application
Applications should be submitted via email to karine.van.doninck@ulb.be. The
application package should contain the following documents:
- A curriculum vitae with the complete list of publications
- A cover letter mentioning why the candidate is interested in the position
- Minimum 2 recommendation letters
Interviews: Interviews will be conducted with the selected candidates. Selected
candidates could also be invited to give a seminar to MBE ULB.
For any additional information, please contact karine.van.doninck@ulb.be

UCSC SARS-CoV-2 Genome Browser

Jit — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 06:48:40 -0600

The UCSC SARS-CoV-2 Genome Browser (https://genome.ucsc.edu/covid19.html) is an adaptation of our popular genome-browser visualization tool for this virus, containing many annotation tracks and new features, including conservation with similar viruses, immune epitopes, RT–PCR and sequencing primers and CRISPR guides. We invite all investigators to contribute to this resource to accelerate research and development activities globally.

Address of the bookmark: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-020-0700-8

MUM&Co is a simple bash script that uses Whole Genome Alignment information provided by MUMmer (v4) to detect variants.

Rahul Nayak — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 04:34:12 -0500

MUM&Co is able to detect:
Deletions, insertions, tandem duplications and tandem contractions (>=50bp & <=150kb)
Inversions (>=1kb) and translocations (>=10kb)

Address of the bookmark: https://github.com/SAMtoBAM/MUMandCo

Genome Context Viewer (GCV)

LEGE — Sun, 21 May 2023 19:33:43 -0500

The Genome Context Viewer (GCV) is a web-app that visualizes genomic context data provided by third party services. Specifically, it uses functional annotations as a unit of search and comparison. By adopting a common set of annotations, data-store operators can deploy federated instances of GCV, allowing users to compare genomes from different providers in a single interface.

Address of the bookmark: https://github.com/legumeinfo/gcv

Tools to access the quality of your assembled genome !

LEGE — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 23:31:18 -0500

FASTA VALIDATOR + SEQKIT RMDUP: FASTA validation
GENOMETOOLS GT GFF3VALIDATOR: GFF3 validation
ASSEMBLATHON STATS: Assembly statistics
GENOMETOOLS GT STAT: Annotation statistics
NCBI FCS ADAPTOR: Adaptor contamination pass/fail
NCBI FCS GX: Foreign organism contamination pass/fail
BUSCO: Gene-space completeness estimation
TIDK: Telomere repeat identification
LAI: Continuity of repetitive sequences
KRAKEN2: Taxonomy classification
HIC CONTACT MAP: Alignment and visualisation of HiC data
MUMMER → CIRCOS + DOTPLOT & MINIMAP2 → PLOTSR: Synteny analysis
MERQURY: K-mer completeness, consensus quality and phasing assessment

Early Genome Screening: The New Health Horoscope!

LEGE — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 19:44:36 -0600

In an era where precision medicine is reshaping healthcare, genome screening is emerging as the modern equivalent of a health horoscope. It offers insights into our biological "stars," unraveling predispositions to various conditions and empowering individuals with knowledge to navigate their health journeys proactively. But how reliable is this "horoscope," and how does it impact our lives?

Understanding Genome Screening

Genome screening involves analyzing an individual's DNA to identify genetic variations that may influence health and disease susceptibility. This can range from simple single-gene tests to comprehensive whole-genome sequencing. By peering into our genetic blueprint, we can uncover risks for conditions like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and even rare genetic disorders.

The process is straightforward: a saliva or blood sample is collected, and advanced sequencing technologies decipher the genetic code. The results provide a personalized health map, guiding lifestyle modifications, preventive measures, or medical interventions.

A Shift from Reactive to Proactive Healthcare

Traditional healthcare often focuses on treating diseases after they manifest. Genome screening flips this model on its head, enabling a shift toward prevention and early intervention. For instance:

Cancer Risk Management: Individuals with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations can opt for enhanced screening programs or preventive surgeries to mitigate their risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
Cardiovascular Health: Genetic predispositions to conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia can prompt early cholesterol monitoring and lifestyle adjustments.
Rare Diseases: Identifying carriers of genetic disorders can aid in family planning and reduce the incidence of inherited conditions.

The Ethical and Practical Concerns

While genome screening offers incredible promise, it is not without challenges:

Accuracy and Interpretation: Genetic predisposition does not guarantee disease. Misinterpretation of results can lead to unnecessary anxiety or unwarranted medical interventions.
Privacy and Data Security: Genetic data is highly sensitive. Ensuring robust data protection measures is crucial to prevent misuse.
Accessibility and Equity: High costs and limited availability may restrict access to genome screening, exacerbating health disparities.

Balancing Science and Pseudoscience

The comparison of genome screening to horoscopes isn’t entirely unfounded. Both offer predictive insights, but the scientific foundation of genome screening distinguishes it from astrology. Unlike the alignment of celestial bodies, genetic predictions are based on rigorous data and evidence. However, the probabilistic nature of genetic predispositions underscores the importance of interpreting results in conjunction with clinical and lifestyle factors.

The Road Ahead

As genome screening becomes more affordable and integrated into routine healthcare, its potential to transform lives is immense. Policymakers, healthcare providers, and genetic counselors must collaborate to ensure ethical implementation, public awareness, and equitable access.

Imagine a future where your genetic "horoscope" is a trusted guide, not just a prediction. Early genome screening could help chart a healthier path for generations, making it a cornerstone of personalized medicine. After all, our genes might just hold the key to unlocking a future of better health and well-being.

HiTE: a fast and accurate dynamic boundary adjustment approach for full-length Transposable Elements detection and annotation in Genome Assemblies

LEGE — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 09:34:04 -0500

HiTE is a Python software that uses a dynamic boundary adjustment approach to detect and annotate full-length Transposable Elements in Genome Assemblies. In comparison to other tools, HiTE demonstrates superior performance in detecting a greater number of full-length TEs.

panHiTE

We have developed panHiTE, a comprehensive and accurate pipeline for TE detection in large-scale population genomes. It has been successfully applied to hundreds of plant population genomes, demonstrating its effectiveness and scalability.

For detailed instructions, please refer to the panHiTE tutorial.

Address of the bookmark: https://github.com/CSU-KangHu/HiTE

Pacman

Rahul Nayak — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 12:15:17 -0600

The pacman package is an R package management tool that combines the functionality of base library related functions into intuitively named functions. This package is ideally added to .Rprofile to increase workflow by reducing time recalling obscurely named functions, reducing code and integrating functionality of base functions to simultaneously perform multiple actions.

Function names in the pacman package follow the format of p_xxx where ‘xxx’ is the task the function performs. For instance the p_load function allows the user to load one or more packages as a more generic substitute for the library or require functions and if the package isn’t available locally it will install it for you.

Installation

To download the development version of pacman:

Download the zip ball or tar ball, decompress and run R CMD INSTALL on it, or use the devtools package to install the development version:

## Make sure your current packages are up to date
update.packages()
## devtools is required
devtools::install_github("trinker/pacman")

Note: Windows users need Rtools and devtools to install this way.

More at https://github.com/trinker/pacman

R Graphs !!

Jit — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 10:48:00 -0500

The blog is a collection of script examples with example data and output plots. R produce excellent quality graphs for data analysis, science and business presentation, publications and other purposes. Self-help codes and examples are provided. Enjoy nice graphs !!

Address of the bookmark: http://rgraphgallery.blogspot.be/

Unicycler: Hybrid assembly pipeline for bacterial genomes

Jit — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 03:58:27 -0600

Unicycler is an assembly pipeline for bacterial genomes. It can assemble Illumina-only read sets where it functions as a SPAdes-optimiser. It can also assembly long-read-only sets (PacBio or Nanopore) where it runs a miniasm+Racon pipeline. For the best possible assemblies, give it both Illumina reads and long reads, and it will conduct a hybrid assembly.

Address of the bookmark: https://github.com/rrwick/Unicycler