By Dr Bik, on  March 9th, 2013 Ecology, Fish, Microbes, Organisms cyanobacteria, DNA, Gene, Global Ocean Survey, iron, Metabolism, metagenomics, parrotfish, submarine 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?
Bringing you some awesome ocean sounds this Friday–nope, not crashing waves or squawking seagulls (boo hiss for vertebrates). These sounds come from MICROBES! Peter Larsen and colleagues at Argonne National Lab (home of the gargantuan Earth Microbiome Project) have turned their huge DNA sequence datasets into music. Listen to the jazzy samplings below (video), and . . . → Read More: TGIF: Some Friday jazz, courtesy of marine microbes
By Dr Bik, on  August 8th, 2012 Microbes, New Research, New Species, Organisms, Uncategorized 18S rRNA, 454, eukaryotes, genomics, high-throughput sequencing, Labyrinthulids, metagenomics, Microbes At the end of May I received some awful news. My former lab manager reached out with an ominous phone call: a high school student I had mentored at the University of New Hampshire had tragically passed away. His name was Evan Dube, and he was attending his first year of university at Bates College . . . → Read More: Beaches, Trees, and Mysterious Species : A tribute to Evan
By Dr Bik, on  June 6th, 2012 Conservation & Environment, Ecology, Microbes, New Research, Oil Spills, Organisms, Uncategorized 18S rRNA, Community Ecology, Deepwater Horizon, DNA Barcoding, Fungi, Gulf of Mexico, high-throughput sequencing, Meiofauna, metagenomics, nematodes, Oil Spill, plos one Ironically enough, I was at a meeting about oil spills when the Macondo well blew. The “Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) in Arctic waters” workshop brought scientists and industry contacts together to discuss the challenges and consequences of petroleum-related accidents in fragile polar habitats. I remember the BP executives had to step out to deal . . . → Read More: Dramatic impacts on beach microbial communities following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
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
Make no mistake about it — I am shamelessly pimping out our lab’s new paper, written by yours truly. In fact, the title of this blog post was actually an alternate name for the manuscript (although I’d love to see the reviewer comments on that title). Technology is absolutely ridiculous these days. My iPhone is . . . → Read More: Our badass 454 sequencing reveals awesome deep-sea insights
By Dr Bik, on  September 3rd, 2011 Ecology, Microbes, New Research, Organisms Bacteria, high-throughput sequencing, metagenomics, Microbes, pelagic, Seasonality, UK …because “High-throughput sequencing confers a deep view of seasonal community dynamics in pelagic marine environments”, however appropriate a title, seems far too dry and technical for a blog. I mean, I want people to read my posts, right? Don’t be fooled by the title, though: I am going to give you some seriously elegant science . . . → Read More: Big text files can tell you how the ocean works
By Dr Bik, on  April 26th, 2011 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
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