new assembly algorithm for 454

A nice new paper in Computational Biology and Computing "Whole genome assembly from 454 sequencing output via modified DNA graph concept" by Blazewicz et al.

Neandertal population genetics

A new paper in this weeks Science "Targeted Retrieval and Analysis of Five Neandertal mtDNA Genomes" by Paabo's group. Details a method for pulling out rare sequences from a mixture via a primer extension method. Pretty neat!

new review by Hamady and Knight

A very nice new paper by Hamady and Knight in Genome Research "Microbial community profiling for human microbiome project: Tools, techniques, and challenges".

new review paper

I wrote a review on metagenomics and high-throughput sequencing for Estuaries and Coasts. It highlights a series of pitfalls that I've seen over the last two years doing Roche/454 runs. You can find a preprint here.

STOP! Important notice inside

I never like seeing stickers like this on Roche/454 reagents. Turns out there is a new "additive" to the emPCR for Titanium. More can be read here.

swine flu was around in 2008

An advance paper in Nature on the origin and TMRCA of the 2009 swine flu.

bTEFAP vs Sogin et al barcodes?

Has anyone every tried the bTEFAP protocol for barcoding amplicons for FLX runs? If so, please let me know... All amplicons we've done to date have been similar to Sogin's protocol for barcoding.