Metagenomics is so easy to understand, right? Scientists just go out and get DNA sequences from…stuff…in the environment. And then they answer lots of questions, like….um… Yeah sometimes I’m lost too. In metagenomics, researchers collect ocean water or soil samples and sequence random bits of DNA from whatever blob of gunk they collect–they end up . . . → Read More: So you think you know Marine Metagenomics?
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By Dr Bik, on  March 9th, 2013  2 comments  Ecology, Fish, Microbes, Organisms  cyanobacteria, DNA, Gene, Global Ocean Survey, iron, Metabolism, metagenomics, parrotfish, submarine By Dr Bik, on October 24th, 2012 5 comments Uncategorized bioinformatics, deep sea, DNA, genomics, Microbes, New Species My fellow Deeplings have been barraging the blog with “Best of” and “Top 10″ lists in recent memory. Now its my turn to chime in. Only…I don’t work with actual animals. I work with DNA sequences. I spent my PhD sitting under the microscope, where I vowed never again! Now I work with gigabyte-sized text . . . → Read More: Top 5 scariest species…from, er, DNA?
By Dr Bik, on April 26th, 2012 Leave a comment Microbes, Organisms, Seeps, Vent, & Whale Falls 16S, Bacteria, DNA, Microbes, rRNA, sulfur, Thiomargarita namibiensis The real title of the paper is “Multiple self-splicing introns in the 16S rRNA genes of giant sulfur bacteria”. But who’s going to fall out of their chair for that? The truth is, we do have aliens peppered among us. Think about Men in Black: plenty of space creatures, but Homo sapiens remains completely oblivious. . . . → Read More: In the oceans, aliens lie hidden and waiting
By Dr Bik, on March 28th, 2012 One comment Expeditions Challenger Deep, Deepsea Challenge, DNA, James Cameron, Mariana Trench, metagenomics, Microbes, Pacific Ocean James Cameron’s descent to the Challenger Deep – we have adventure, intrigue, and a great story for the media. But we also have an amazing opportunity for SCIENCE! Despite a faulty hydraulics hampering sample collections, the Deepsea Challenger managed to grab half a sediment core – a cupful of muddy, watery ooze from the deepest . . . → Read More: Challenger Deep: What we can learn from a single, half core of mud
By Dr Bik, on September 19th, 2011 Leave a comment New Research Bacteria, DNA, genomics, marine, sequencing There’s a new paper today describing the use of very short sequences (100 base pairs long) and sophisticated computational algorithms to map out an entire genome sequence. Falling asleep yet? Ok, that technology might sound pretty cool, but for us molecular biologists it is sooo last season in the genomics world (like beige nail polish . . . → Read More: Hot dayum, Craig Venter
By Dr Bik, on May 28th, 2011 3 comments Evolution, Fish, New Research DNA, genome, Little Skate, model organism This past week I was visiting the University of Delaware to attend the 3rd Skate Genome Annotation workshop, sponsored by the IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Program from the National Center of Research Resources at the National Institutes of Health. As the title suggests, we’re looking at real data from the genome project . . . → Read More: Assembling the Little Skate Genome
By Dr Bik, on May 14th, 2011 One comment Microbes, New Research, Seeps, Vent, & Whale Falls 16S, archaea, Bacteria, DNA, high-throughput sequencing, hydrotermal vent, Lost City, Microbes, rRNA I recently reported on the awesomeness of high-throughput sequencing technologies, and commented on their huge potential for transforming the way biologists do business. (Seriously, people, its going to be like the renaissance of 21st century science – you heard it here first!) As a follow up to my previous post, I wanted to highlight this . . . → Read More: Predicting Microbial Communities in the Deep-sea
By Dr Bik, on April 26th, 2011 7 comments Ecology, Microbes, New Species, Organisms 454, DNA, Illumina, metagenomics, Microbes, RB Editor's Selection, sequencing If you’ve ever talked to me in person for more than 5 minutes, I’ve probably mentioned the !#$%*ING AWESOMENESS of high-throughput sequencing. Frankly, I’m a bit obsessed. If my life were an SAT analogy, it would be Dr Bik:Sequencing platforms as Teenage Girls:Twilight. My gorgeous Illumina never sleeps (runs 2 weeks straight for a . . . → Read More: Metagenomics: Transforming our understanding of oceans
By Dr Bik, on March 20th, 2011 2 comments Ecology, Organisms, Scientist! career, computational biology, cyberinfrastructure, DNA, marine biology, Organisms, sequencing So you wanna be a marine biologist in the 21st century? Better crack open that MacBook and start writing perl scripts. As part of our NSF RAPID grant studying the impact of the Deepwater Horizon spill, our group is busy organizing an outreach workshop for undergrads entitled the “Bioinformatics of Biodiversity”. We’ll be giving a . . . → Read More: A 21st century view of Marine Biology
By Dr Bik, on February 20th, 2011 4 comments Opinion & Editorial, Reviews DNA, Genetics, ghetto guide, PCR Everyone knows what DNA is–the genetic code, the building block of life, what catches the criminals in CSI. But do you know how scientists harness the awesome power of DNA in their everyday research? Marine science (like any other science these days) is becoming more and more reliant on genetic information. DNA can tell us . . . → Read More: The Ghetto Guide to Genetics
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