Virtual Metabarcoding course (Jan 20-Feb 14, 2024) Metabarcoding is a rapidly evolving method for assessing biodiversity from bulk or environmental samples. It has a wide range of applications: biodiversity monitoring, animal diet assessment, reconstruction of paleo communities, among others. DNA metabarcoding relies on molecular techniques such as PCR and next-generation sequencing, and requires bioinformatics and biostatistics competence to analyze sequencing results. This approach integrates several scientific areas and requires a broad range of skills in addition to the basic knowledge related to the considered research topic. This course will provide an overview of the state of current technology and the various platforms used. It consists of a series of online lectures and research exercises introducing different aspects of metabarcoding and other DNA-based approaches. We will also touch on the suite of bioinformatics tools available for sequence analysis and data interpretation. The four-week course is divided into four units and provides 18 hours of (mostly asynchronous) instructional time. * Unit 01: Next-Generation Sequencing * Unit 02: Metabarcoding and beyond * Unit 03: Metabarcoding Analytics * Unit 04: Applications/Recent Research Course Start Date: Monday, January 20, 2025 Course End Date: Friday, February 14, 2025 More information and enrolment: https://courses.opened.uoguelph.ca/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=18146&selectedProgramAreaId=16994&selectedProgramStreamId=12732257 Dr. Dirk Steinke (he/him) | Associate Director, Analytics - Centre for Biodiversity Genomics - University of Guelph Centre for Biodiversity Genomics | University of Guelph CBG Room 109 | 50 Stone Road E | Guelph, Ontario | N1G2W1 519-824-4120 Ext. 53759 | dsteinke@uoguelph.ca | http://biodiversitygenomics.net Dirk Steinke (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)