Linked read sequencing is go!

We already have over four billion reads and 620 GB of NovaSeq Illumina data for our three tiger snakes; next week’s BABS3291 prac will look at some of the early ABySS assemblies of one of these snakes.

Phase 2 of the sequencing is now go! 10x Chromium linked read libraries were prepared at the Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics last week for one tiger snake and one eastern brown snake. These data promise to make much easier and more intact genome assemblies. We received notification today that the samples have arrived in the KCCG sequencing laboratory at the Garvan Institute for Illumina HiSeq X (“XTen”) sequencing.

Nobody knows how well linked read sequencing, which is optimised for human genomes, will work in a snake but we look forward to finding out!

What would YOU do with six billion sequencing reads?

The Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics, where we get all the sequencing done for the BABS Genome, is holding a competition to win a full sequencing run on their new NovaSeq 6000. This is one of the technologies we are using for our snake genomes - in fact, our three tiger snakes were part of the very first sequencing run on the new machine. The capacity of this thing is awesome. In addition to the three snake samples, we had three cane toads as part of the ongoing [cane toad genome project] and, for a control, sequenced one of our yeast strains about 10,000 times!

The Competition

NovaSeq Mini Grant – How would you use 3 billion reads?

To celebrate the opening of our new genomics facility we are pleased to announce a mini grant valued up to $28,000. Researchers with innovative, collaborative projects are invited to submit a 250-word application outlining how 3 billion reads can be utilised to advance their research. The winner will receive an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 S2 100bp PE run (up to 3.3B reads/660Gb), with heavily subsidised library construction. Submit your entry by completing an application form and emailing it to Nextgenseq@unsw.edu.au with the subject heading “NovaSeq mini grant”. Terms and conditions apply.