DNA Subway: DNA Subway Places Students on Fast Track to Genome Analysis

This hands-on workshop will introduce you to DNA Subway, an online-bioinformatics platform developed by the iPlant Collaborative. Genomic data increasingly drive biological research; requiring educators design curricula that can accommodate data and bioinformatics tools originally designed for high-level users. DNA Subway (dnasubway.iplantcollaborative.org) packages complex bioinformatics tools and data in an intuitive and appealing interface. Participants in this hand-on workshop will learn to use DNA Subway through the use of guided exercises. “Riding” different lines, users can predict and annotate genes in up to 150,000 basepairs of DNA (Red Line); survey plant genomes for gene and transposon families (Yellow Line); use sequence data to identify organisms based on DNA barcodes and construct phylogenetic trees (Blue Line). An additional pipeline will also include functionality for manipulating next-generation sequencing data (RNASeq, small genome assembly). DNA Subway engages students in their own learning by bringing to life elements of gene structure, genetics, and genomics traditionally approached by educators as abstractions. Our student-centered approach lowers the barriers to entry for educators who want to provide every level of student access to the large-scale datasets and informatics tools that drive modern biology.