DNA METABARCODING: How to design and analyze next-generation data for biodiversity monitoring
Event
DNA metabarcoding is an innovative method widely used to describe biodiversity patterns and food webs across multiple habitats and ecosystems. It allows the identification of multiple organisms composing complex samples such as air, water, faeces, soil, bulk organisms, through the amplification of taxonomically informative genomic regions. Much progress has been made so far towards the development of this method, fostered by the need for a simple, fast and cost-effective method. Yet its application requires different fields of expertise (traditional and DNA-based taxonomy, molecular biology, NGS technology, bioinformatics, and computational statistics) and consequently uninformed technical decisions can dictate the quality of results. Therefore, in this course we propose to focus on the complexity of each step and provide insights on best practices, while encouraging critical thinking.The main objective of this course is to provide the basic tools for good experimental design, data processing and analysis in DNA metabarcoding. The course will be mostly hands-on bioinformatics and statistical analysis so students should be familiar with bash and R environment.
PROGRAM (35 hours)
March 18th, 2024
BIOPOLIS-CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal (Face-to-face)
DNA metabarcoding is an innovative method widely used to describe biodiversity patterns and food webs across multiple habitats and ecosystems. It allows the identification of multiple organisms composing complex samples such as air, water, faeces, soil, bulk organisms, through the amplification of taxonomically informative genomic regions. Much progress has been made so far towards the development of this method, fostered by the need for a simple, fast and cost-effective method. Yet its application requires different fields of expertise (traditional and DNA-based taxonomy, molecular biology, NGS technology, bioinformatics, and computational statistics) and consequently uninformed technical decisions can dictate the quality of results. Therefore, in this course we propose to focus on the complexity of each step and provide insights on best practices, while encouraging critical thinking.The main objective of this course is to provide the basic tools for good experimental design, data processing and analysis in DNA metabarcoding. The course will be mostly hands-on bioinformatics and statistical analysis so students should be familiar with bash and R environment.
Day 01 | March 18, 2024
9:45-13:00 | Course Introduction &Lectures on Metabarcoding applications
14:00-17:45 | Lectures on Sampling design & Library prep
Day 02 | March 19, 2024
9:45-13:00 | Lectures on Bioinformatic procedures
14:00-17:45 | Hands-on I: from fastqs to OTUs
Day 03 | March 20, 2024
9:45-13:00 | Lectures on Taxonomic assignment and data curation
14:00-17:45 | Hands-on II: from OTUs to species
Day 04 | March 21, 2024
9:45-13:00 | OTU table curation
14:00-17:45 | Multivariate data analysis
Day 05 | March 22, 2024
9:45-13:00 | Presentation preparation
14:00-17:45 | Presentations
Students will need to use their personal laptops for this course and to install specific software. The respective instructions will be sent by email one week prior to the course's start.
Students will need to use their personal laptops for this course and to install specific software. The respective instructions will be sent by email one week prior to the course's start.
COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Vanessa Mata (Coordinator) | BIOPOLIS/CIBIO - APPLECOL
SELECTION CRITERIA
The course will be open to a maximum number of 16 participants.
75% of available student slots are reserved for BIODIV students.
Priority will be given to:
• 1st year and other PhD students attending the BIODIV Doctoral Program;
• PhD students attending other courses;
• Other post-graduate students and researchers.
REGISTRATION
95€ (students) | 200€ (other participants)
CIBIO-InBIO members will have an additional discount of 20%
Participation is free of charge for BIODIV Students MBGE 1st year Students & CIBIO's TwinLabs
CIBIO-InBIO members will have an additional discount of 20%
Participation is free of charge for BIODIV Students MBGE 1st year Students & CIBIO's TwinLabs
Registration fees do not include accommodation or meals
No ECTS credits are awarded for attending the course. Participants receive a certificate of attendance without quantitative evaluation
No ECTS credits are awarded for attending the course. Participants receive a certificate of attendance without quantitative evaluation
Application deadline: February 02, 2024
To apply, please fill the form available HERE