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Biology subjects

Carstens, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Carstens, N..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Benchmarking sequence performance on the DNBSEQ-T7 using Genome in a Bottle reference genomes

Advances in sequencing technologies have improved the accuracy, throughput, and completeness of human genome characterization, enabling more reliable detection of genetic variation. Well-characterized reference genomes are critical for benchmarking sequencing platforms and bioinformatics analysis pipelines. Here, we present whole genome sequencing datasets generated for the Ashkenazi Jewish trio reference samples from the Genome in a Bottle Consortium. Libraries were prepared using three distinct MGI-based workflows: PCR-free library preparation, FastFS DNA library preparation, and Universal DNA library preparation. Sequencing was performed on the MGI DNBSEQ-T7 platform, generating a minimum of 400 million paired-end reads per sample, corresponding to 30X mean genome coverage. Raw reads were processed using a standardized GATK bioinformatics workflow. Sequencing performance and variant detection accuracy were evaluated using the Genome in a Bottle high-confidence benchmark variant sets. All workflows demonstrated high sequencing quality and concordance with GIAB benchmark truth sets, with PCR-free libraries showing the strongest indel calling performance and lowest Mendelian violation rates across the Ashkenazi trio. This dataset provides a resource for benchmarking DNBSEQ-T7 sequencing and bioinformatics workflows, and for evaluating the impact of library preparation strategies on whole genome variant detection performance.

bioinformatics↗

Chromosome-level genome assembly of Helichrysum odoratissimum, a medicinal plant from Southern Africa

Helichrysum odoratissimum, a plant species native to Southern Africa, holds deep cultural significance and is widely used in traditional medicine. It is valued for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and is cultivated and traded in South Africa due to its growing commercial relevance to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Despite its ecological and economic importance, genomic resources for this species remain limited. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly for H. odoratissimum to facilitate investigations into its genetic basis of bioactivity, environmental adaptation, and taxonomic relationships. High-molecular-weight DNA extracted from leaf tissue was sequenced using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read sequencing, and Hi-C proximity ligation data were generated to enable chromosome-scale scaffolding. The final assembly spans 2.4 Gb, with a scaffold N50 of 354 Mb, and was anchored and oriented into seven chromosomes, with 2,935 smaller scaffolds remaining unplaced. Assembly quality and completeness were evaluated using QUAST and BUSCO, and chromosomal structure was validated using Hi-C contact maps. This genome provides a foundational resource for functional genomics, conservation planning, molecular breeding, and the discovery of bioactive compounds underpinning the medicinal and commercial value of H. odoratissimum.

genomics↗