Using Mobile Sequencers in an Academic Classroom

• NCJ Number: 251256
• Journal: ELife Volume: 5
• Author(s): S. Zaaijer; Y. Erlich
• Date Published: April 2016
• Length: 0 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2014-DN-BX-K089
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Award: Robust STR calling from High-throughput Sequencing Technologies

Annotation

Since the advent of mobile DNA sequencers has made it possible to generate DNA sequencing data outside of laboratories and genome centers, this article reports on researchers' experience of using the MinION, a mobile sequencer, in a 13-week academic course for undergraduate and graduate students.

Abstract

The course consisted of theoretical sessions that presented fundamental topics in genomics and several applied hackathon sessions. In these hackathons, the students used MinION sequencers to generate and analyze their own data and gain hands-on experience in the topics discussed in the theoretical classes. The manuscript describes the structure of the class, the educational material, and the lessons learned in the process. It is hoped that the knowledge and material presented here will provide the community with useful tools for educating future generations of genome scientists. (Publisher abstract modified)