Abstract:
During the past few years we have witnessed dramatic advances in DNA sequencing and mapping technologies. These technologies generate data orders of magnitude faster, and at just a fraction of the costs previously possible. As a result, DNA sequencing is rapidly becoming a critical tool in many areas of biology research. At the same time, however, the wealth of data being generated is rapidly challenging the capacity of the computational infrastructure available to researchers. In my talk I will discuss the ways in which these data are affecting metagenomic studies, both by creating significant computational challenges, and by forcing us to rethink the way in which data should be analyzed.