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Lessons

1. Eukaryotic Genomes and Chromatin Structure

This lecture introduces the following topics:

  • C-value paradox (2 slides)
  • explains how we first recognized that eukaryotic genomes are full of repetitious sequences by using Cot curves (11 slides; allows you to remind students about second order rate equations they learned in freshman chemistry!);
  • repeat characteristics of eukaryotic genomes (5 slides);
  • the need to package all that DNA to get it into a nucleus (3 slides);
  • the development of the nucleosome model (11 slides);
  • the relationship between nucleosome arrays and gene expression (4 slides).

Development of the nucleosome model represents a paradigm shift in our thinking about chromosomes, and slides are included pointing out how this model was initially rejected, but subsequently achieved widespread support in the scientific community.

Why Study the F Element?

This video provides a 50-minute talk on our motivation and progress for the F Element “expansion” Project. The talk briefly introduces the

  • C-value paradox (2 slides);
  • the need to silence repeats (3 slides);
  • basic chromatin structure (3 slides);
  • heterochromatin and the F Element (6 slides);
  • mapping the F Element in D. melanogaster for repeats and heterochromatin structure (10 slides);
  • examining the Transcription Start Site, looking for regulatory motifs (6 slides);
  • describing the “F Element expansion” project and our initial findings (8 slides).

The slide set used in the video is provided as a PowerPoint (automatic download) and a PDF Handout using the buttons below.

Parasitoid Wasps Project: Annotation Workbook

For the Parasitoid Wasps Project gene annotation, project submission will consist of a completed Annotation Workbook, a screenshot of the user track on the Genome Browser, and sequence files for the entire transcript and encoded protein. This Annotation Workbook is an Excel file with space to fill out all the necessary information for the gene annotation.

If it is done correctly, filling out the workbook will also auto-populate a GFF file that can be used for testing the accuracy of gene models (described in the “Checking Accuracy of the Gene Model (Alternative to Gene Model Checker)” section of the “Annotation Workbook Directions“). Please note that everything should be filled out exactly as described: the vocabulary and formatting need to be very precise to make a functional GFF file.

The “Example” sheet has been completed for you to reference while completing the “Transcript” sheet.

Parasitoid Wasps Project: Annotation Workbook Directions

This document provides directions for how to complete and obtain the items needed to submit a Parasitoid Wasps Project annotation—a completed Annotation Workbook, a screenshot of the user track on the Genome Browser, and sequence files for the entire transcript and encoded protein.

Parasitoid Wasps Project: Annotation Walkthrough

This exercise will walkthrough an example of annotating a wasp venom gene for the Parasitoid Wasps Project. It will discuss wasp versions of common GEP annotation tools—Genome Browser, Gene Record Finder, and Gene Model Checker—and provide background for the interpretation of data tracks that are unique to the Parasitoid Wasps Project.

Pathways Project: Annotation Workflow

The Annotation Workflow is a one page summary of the annotation protocol for the Pathways Project. This workflow provides an overview of the key analysis steps and bioinformatics tools for the annotation of a putative ortholog.

Pathways Project: Annotation Report

GEP students will use the Report Form document to submit their annotation results for the Pathways Project. The Project Details Table handout will show students how to fill out the first page of the Annotation Report. The Report Form Exemplar is provided as an example of a completed report.

Pathways Project: Annotation Notebook

The Pathways Annotation Notebook will help GEP students keep track of their work as they are annotating, and then they can use the notebook to fill out the report form. This notebook does not have to be submitted to GEP, it’s just an extra resource students might find helpful.