Linking next generation sequencing facilities across the Dalhousie Faculties:From marine genomics to human microbiome

高通量测序已经彻底改变了生物学的许多领域，包括从单个个体到整个群体获得基因组信息的能力，以及包括从环境样品获得DNA序列信息的能力。在过去的几年里，测序设备的快速改进导致了资源从大型专业中心分散到各个大学部门的实验室。在这里，我们建议获得DNA超声仪和液体处理器，以简化在加载到Illumina MiSeq DNA测序仪之前的文库构建的准备步骤，该测序仪已经在达尔豪西大学的生物系中可用。 这台设备的收购将使我们能够实现高质量的测序和有效的校园范围内使用现有的测序设备。该应用程序支持最近的大学范围内的微生物倡议，努力建立微生物群落测序和数据处理的高标准。支持Biology Illumina测序仪（MiSeq）的所需设备将是多用途的，并为计划在研究中利用高通量下一代测序（NGS）的所有教职员工及其HQP提供服务。购买该设备将通过消除大型集中测序中心或公司的长等待时间来提高生产率。这将有助于通过计划的微生物组学举措确保数据的质量，该举措将为序列数据的质量控制制定严格的标准。此外，它还将为研究海洋和淡水生物种群基因组学的大型项目做出贡献。在生物学系提供NGS文库制备和测序所需的所有工具，将使HQP在NGS数据生成的各个方面得到全面培训。

High throughput sequencing has revolutionized many areas of biology, including the ability to obtain genomic information from single individuals to whole populations and including the ability to obtain DNA sequence information from environmental samples. Rapid improvement of sequencing equipment in the last few years has led to a decentralization of resources from large specialized centers to laboratories in individual university departments. Here we propose to acquire a DNA sonicator and liquid handler needed to streamline the preparatory steps leading to library construction prior to loading on an Illumina MiSeq DNA sequencer which is already available in the Department of Biology at Dalhousie University. The acquisition of this equipment will allow us to achieve high quality sequencing and efficient campus-wide use of the available sequencing equipment. The application supports a recent university-wide microbiomics initiative that strives to establish high standards for microbial community sequencing and data processing. The requested equipment to support the Biology Illumina sequencer (MiSeq) will be multi-purpose and serve all faculty members and their HQP who are planning to utilize high throughput next generation sequencing (NGS) in their research. The acquisition of the equipment will increase productivity by eliminating long wait periods characteristic of large centralized sequencing centers or companies. It will help ensure the quality of the data through the planned microbiomic initiative, which will establish stringent criteria for the quality control of sequence data. In addition, it will contribute to large scale projects examining the population genomics of marine and freshwater organisms. Making all of the required tools for NGS library preparation and sequencing available in the Department of Biology will enable comprehensive training of HQP in all aspects of NGS data generation.