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May 14

The Final Arizona Sequence

Posted on May 14, 2009

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Kumar Presentation.jpg Photograph by Matt Kaplan.
Members of the Genographic team with their new laptops in a workshop session with Kumar Swamikrishnan (IBM). 

Posted by Kumar Swamikrishnan.

With their new laptops in hand, the scientists from the Genographic global regional centers were ready to head home. These new computers will make their data analysis much smoother and faster. With any global project with many contributors, ensuring data consistency is paramount. The software created for each lab and installed on their new laptops will help them simplify their work and ensure that the data is accurate and consistent. We also tweaked how each center securely sends their data to our central database, so that it's easy to use for both the scientists at each center and for those doing research on the combined database from all the centers. I noticed the immediate improvement when Daniela Rodriguez Lacerda, from Genographic's South American Center, was able to navigate the software without any assistance and upload her center's data in a matter of minutes!

- Kumar Swamikrishnan, IBM

May 12

Testing New Technologies

Posted on May 12, 2009

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AZ pics 015.jpg

Photograph by Colby Bishop
Genotyping materials used in Arizona Research Labs.

Posted by Janet Ziegle.

What fun we had at the workshop these last few days.  After discussing reagents, Taqman assays (substances used in the DNA testing process) and Applied Biosystem's (AB) new technology, each center is looking forward to returning home to incorporate these new techniques into their labs.  

As the lead in research and development for AB, I work directly with Genographic researchers to select and create some of the appropriate technologies to enable each lab to produce quality results.  In particular, a group of AB researchers and I develop custom reagents called multiplex 2 and Taqman assays for the Genographic Project.  While I communicate daily via email and phone with the global Genographic centers, this face to face time in the lab proved to be very valuable.

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May 08

The Journey of DNA

Posted on May 8, 2009 in Fieldwork

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Wolfgang presentation.pngPhotograph by Matt Kaplan
Wolfgang Haak discusses genotyping protocol.

Posted by Nirav Merchant.

Barcodes are everywhere you look, from products on a store shelf to express mail and books.  You are always a glance away from the omnipresent black and white bands.  So what do barcodes have to do with Genographic work in the field?  

Scientists from each Genographic regional center travel to remote locations to gather DNA samples which they collect and transport in small vials and tubes.  To ensure that there are no mix ups or data entry errors, the vials and accompanying forms are given matching barcodes, similar to labels and GPIDs in the public participation kits. Once the samples arrive back at the regional center, they are scanned using a barcode reader and they are ready to begin testing.  As the DNA travels through the various testing stages, the barcode allows us to track its progress and location. 

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May 07

Lab Collaboration

Posted on May 7, 2009 in Fieldwork

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AZgroup.JPGPhotograph by Colby Bishop.
Members of the Geno team standing in front of Arizona Research Labs 

Posted by Matt Kaplan.

We are excited to have members of the Genographic global research centers joining us here at Arizona Research Labs.

It is right here in my lab that we process the public participation samples (from the public participation kits many of you purchase on the website) for the Genographic Project. So far we have processed over 300,000 samples!

Because each individual Genographic research center processes their own field research samples - which come from our collaborations with indigenous peoples living in remote areas - this workshop is an opportunity for members from all of the Genographic laboratories to come together and address the opportunities and the challenges of coordinated global science.

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May 05

Tackling Data Together in the Lab

Posted on May 5, 2009 in Fieldwork

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AZ 5-4.jpgPhotograph by Colby Bishop
Ryan Sprissler of Arizona Research Labs gives an overview of the ARL equipment to the Genographic team.

Posted by David Soria.

Hello from the University of Arizona's Research Labs in Tucson! We are excited to have science representatives from our global Genographic research centers as well as members from IBM, Applied Biosystems and the University of Arizona together for a seven day technical workshop. We have a full agenda planned and are excited to discuss our progress in the last year. We look forward to sharing information and hearing updates from each center.

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Genographic Kit

Welcome to the Genographic Project's blog, Genographica! Genographica will feature posts from all of the Genographic team, from our scientists based around the world, our teams at National Geographic and IBM plus guest posts as well. We hope you'll check back often and follow along with us as our work carries on!

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