In this post, we’ll explore the core methods used in comparative genomics, the questions they help answer, and how they’re shaping our understanding of life.

1. Whole-Genome Alignment
Whole-genome alignment involves mapping the entire genome of one species to another. Tools like MUMmer, MAUVE, and LASTZ perform large-scale sequence alignments to detect conserved regions, rearrangements, insertions, and deletions.

Use Case:
Comparing human and chimpanzee genomes to identify evolutionary conserved sequences (ECS) and regions of divergence.

Key Challenges:
Handling repetitive sequences and genome rearrangements.

Computational complexity in large genomes.

2. Synteny and Collinearity Analysis
Synteny refers to conserved blocks of gene order across species. Tools like MCScanX, SynMap, or CHITRA (for visualizing synteny interactively) detect these blocks to understand chromosomal evolution.

Use Case:
Studying ancient genome duplications in plants.

Investigating chromosomal rearrangements in cancer genomes.

3. Ortholog and Paralog Detection
Orthologs are genes in different species that evolved from a common ancestor, while paralogs are genes duplicated within a genome. Identifying them is crucial for functional annotation and evolutionary studies.

Popular Tools:
OrthoFinder, Orthologous MAtrix (OMA), InParanoid, and EggNOG.

Use Case:
Functional prediction of uncharacterized genes based on orthologs in model organisms.

Tracing gene family evolution.

4. Phylogenomic Analysis
Phylogenomic methods combine phylogenetics and genomics to infer evolutionary trees based on genome-wide data. These methods can handle dozens to hundreds of genomes, using concatenated alignments or gene trees.

Tools:
RAxML, IQ-TREE, ASTRAL, Phylip, BEAST.

Use Case:
Resolving the evolutionary relationships between microbial species.

Studying speciation events.

5. Pan-Genome Analysis
The pan-genome consists of the core genome (shared by all strains) and the accessory genome (strain-specific genes). This is especially popular in microbial genomics.

Tools:
Roary, Panaroo, BPGA, PGAP.

Use Case:
Understanding virulence factor diversity in E. coli.

Designing broad-spectrum vaccines.

6. Comparative Transcriptomics
Comparing transcriptomes across species or conditions reveals conserved and unique expression patterns. RNA-seq data can be mapped to reference genomes to identify orthologous expression profiles.

Use Case:
Comparing stress response in extremophiles and model species.

Studying conserved regulatory networks.

7. Functional Element Comparison
Beyond genes, comparative genomics also targets non-coding regions—enhancers, promoters, miRNAs. Conservation across species often implies functional importance.

Tools:
PhastCons, GERP, phyloP (based on multiple alignments).

Use Case:
Detecting conserved non-coding elements in vertebrates.

Studying regulatory divergence in human evolution.

8. Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) Detection
In microbes, genes often jump across species boundaries. Comparative genomics can detect HGT by identifying genes that defy the expected phylogenetic pattern.

Tools:
HGTector, DarkHorse, AlienHunter, SIGI-HMM.

Use Case:
Tracing antibiotic resistance genes.

Exploring microbial adaptability in extreme environments.

Final Thoughts
Comparative genomics is a powerful lens to observe the diversity and unity of life. With a broad toolkit—from aligners to orthology pipelines, phylogenetic engines to visualization tools—it allows scientists to ask big questions: How did genomes evolve? What makes species unique? Where do new genes come from?

Whether you're studying extremophiles, building better crops, or exploring human ancestry, comparative genomics offers the methods to connect the dots across the tree of life.

ADVERTISEMENT NO. - URDIP/ 5/2014

Learning opportunity for young Science and Engineering professionals to make a career in Information Science Industry CSIR has set up a Unit for Research and Development of Information Products (CSIR-URDIP) at Pune to work in the area of Scientific Informatics (ChemBioinformatics/Patent Informatics/Phytoinformatics/Toxinformatics) and related
software development projects.

Applications are invited from CSIR - UGC NET Qualified Candidates for consideration as Project Fellow (PF) and/or Senior Project Fellow (SPF) based on the experience to work on existing and new projects at CSIRURDIP.

Project Fellow

Remuneration - (Rs. 16,000.00 + 20% HRA)

M. Sc. In Biochemistry/Microbiology/Bioinformatics [Post-code A02] only with minimum of 55% marks

Senior Project Fellow

Remuneration - (Rs. 18,000.00 + 20% HRA)

M. Sc. in Biochemistry/Microbiology/Bioinformatics [Post-code A05] only with minimum of 55% marks plus two years research or relevant informatics experience

Please visit www.urdip.res.in/career.htm to apply online by 30th September, 2014.

Successful candidates who have appeared for NET exam in 2012 and 2013 are only eligible to apply.

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Eligible candidates are invited for a walk-in-interview for recruitment of Project Assistant in SVIMS Bioinformatics centre under the BTISnet Project entitled “Creation of Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility for promotion of Biology teaching through Bioinformatics” on 25.09.2014 at 11 AM in SVIMS, Tirupati. The engagement will be made purely on temporary basis for a period of one year and it can be terminated at any time without notice or without assigning any reason thereof by the Coordinator of the Project. The person engaged shall not be entitled for any claim implicit or explicit for absorption in the University.

1. Name of the post : Project Assistant

2. Qualification :
i) Essential : MSc Bioinformatics/MTech (Biotechnology/Bioinformatics)

ii) Desirable : Experience in Bioinformatics research work (Preference will be given to candidates qualified in BINC/UGC/CSIR/NET/GATE)

3. Remuneration : 16000 + 10% HRA for NET/GATE candidates 14000 + 10% HRA for M. Tech / M.Sc. Candidates

4. Place of posting : Tirupati

5. Duration of the Project : One year

Terms and conditions:

1. Candidates are required to submit the Biodata relevant certificates in support of their age and educational qualification etc., before the interview committee, SVIMS University, Tirupati.

2. Candidates called for interview will attend the interview at their own cost.
3. Interim enquiries will not be entertained.
4. The maximum age limit for Project Assistant is 28 years for general category and 33 years for SC and ST category candidates as on 25th September, 2014.

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Current projects in the Morota lab include developing kernel-based whole-genome prediction and kernel-based genome-wide association models, polygenic modeling of binary traits, reexamining the results from quantitative genetics analysis in light of functional annotation, and extending kernel methods (such as GBLUP and RKHS) specifically tailored for diverse types of emerging omics data.

In addition, candidates will be expected to leverage opportunities to interact with faculty in animal genetics and biometrics at the UNL in the areas of bioinformatics, breeding, functional genomics, quantitative genetics, and molecular genetics.

Candidates should have a B.S. or M.S. degree in quantitative disciplines with strong background and interest in statistical computing.
The starting date is Fall 2015.
For more information about research in the Morota lab at the UNL, visit: http://www.morotalab.org

A letter of interest in the position, C.V., and contact information for
three references should be emailed to Gota Morota at .
Review of applications will begin immediately, and continue until the
positions are filled. Informal inquiries are also welcome.

Also, please see: http://animalscience.unl.edu/anscprospectivegraduatestudents

Essential qualifications: First class M. Sc. in any branch of life sciences and qualified CSIR-UGC NET/GATE Examination.

Desirable qualifications: Practical experience in biochemical and biophysical studies of proteins

Emoluments: as per DBT norms

The project is tenable for two years, initially for one year.

Age: Below 28 years (relaxable in the case of SC/ST/OBC/women candidates)

Candidates are requested to bring two sets of complete applications on plain paper furnishing bio-data and copies of attested certificates along with originals (for verification) on the date of interview.

No TA/DA is admissible for candidates appearing at the interview.

Dr. Rajat Banerjee
Assistant Professor
Department of Biotechnology and
Dr. B. C. Guha Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
University College of Science
35, Ballygunge Circular Road
Kolkata 700019

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Required Skills: no special skills required for this job post
Required Experience:
Experience in computer aided drug design and or biochemical testing of natural or synthetic compounds is desired
Required Education:
M.Sc. / M.Tech.

Required Job Profile:
Candidate must possess M.Sc. in bioinformatics or computational biology or biotechnology or any branch of life sciences or pharmacology or chemical sciences or M.Tech. in any branch of life sciences with at least fifty five percent marks with NET or GATE.

Desired Job Profile:
Candidate having experience in computer aided drug design and or biochemical testing of natural or synthetic compounds.

How to apply:
Eligible and interested candidates should need to appear for walk-in interview on 21.11.2014 at 1700 hrs at the above mentioned address.

Contact
Pondicherry University
Dr. S. Mohane Coumar, Assistant Professor & Project Investigator, Centre for Bioinformatics, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605 014
Email:registrar@pondiuni.edu.in
Phone: 0413-2655175

More at http://www.pondiuni.edu.in/sites/default/files/JRF-bioinfor-041114.pdf

Applications are invited for the AiCADD fellowship (MHRD, Govt. of India) of University of Kerala.

The terms and conditions of the fellowship is given below:

Ø The AiCADD PhD Fellowship scheme will be available for the students registered for full-time research or intending to register and pursue full time research at SIUCEB in frontier areas of bioinformatics, computational biology, systems biology and closely allied areas with focus on Ayur-Informatics.

Ø The fellowships will be widely announced and open to students irrespective of geographical consideration.

Ø Candidates availing of this fellowship shall not be in receipt of any other fellowships concurrently.

Ø Researchers will be selected on the basis of research aptitude test and personal interview.

Ø Each selected student will be eligible for a monthly fellowship of Rs. 10,000/- for the 1st and 2nd year and Rs. 12,000/- for the 3rd year.

Ø Candidates must register for PhD within one year of joining, failing which the fellowship will have to be remitted back.

Ø Candidates receiving the fellowship shall submit bi-annual reports of progress and the continuation of the fellowship will be based on the evaluation of the same.

Ø Candidates are also required to take up academic duties including teaching upto a maximum of 6 hours per week, as directed by AiCADD Principal Investigator.

Interested candidates may please forward their application along with resume on or before 15th November 2014 in the following address. Principal Investigator, AiCADD Centre, Dept. of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram - 695581.

More at https://sites.google.com/site/centreforbioinformatics/announcements