Seasons Sequences: Closing the Year with Chromatin  After a wet arrival, the rain broke, and the sun finally made an appearance, marking the second day of the historic 45th annual Asilomar Chromatin Conference – yes, you read that right, 45 years! Despite chilly temperatures, the lecture hall was warmed with exciting talks from researchers all over the globe and lively debates on chromatin dynamics and how it shapes genomes and directs gene expression. The jam-packed conference schedule was highlighted with talks starting bright and early and going well into the night each day, with an o ..read more

Genomic Research in Service of Conservation: The Cases of Whitebark Pine and Clark’s Nutcracker The Interdependent Lives of Whitebark Pine and Clark’s Nutcracker The mutual relationship between the whitebark pine and Clark’s Nutcracker, as detailed by the National Park Service, provides a compelling context for conservation efforts. This ecological interdependence underscores the importance of preserving each species, not only for their individual survival but also for maintaining the balance of their shared habitat. Decoding the Whitebark Pine Genome for Conservation The work of Dr. Dav ..read more

Demystifying Hi-C Data Normalization: A Guide for Genomic Researchers Genomic research has come a long way since the draft of the human genome was first published over two decades ago, driven by the continuous advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. One of the most transformative methods to emerge from these developments is Hi-C, a library preparation technique that provides unique insights into the three-dimensional organization of the genome. However, analyzing Hi-C data presents its own set of challenges, particularly regarding data normalization. We’ve created a com ..read more

What Is Enhancer Hijacking, And How Can I Detect It? Active gene expression requires the coordinated interaction between gene promoters and genetic elements called enhancers. Enhancers are DNA sequences that are often located at great distances in linear sequence from the genes they regulate, but physically interact with the gene’s promoter region. This interaction is mediated through the looping of chromatin, bringing transcription factors, bound to the enhancer sequence, into physical contact with the transcription complex assembled on the gene promoter. Cellular machinery exists to control ..read more

Chromatin Epigenetics Comes to Victoria BC With its majestic lines and stunning outlook over Victoria Harbor, attending a conference at the Fairmont Empress Victoria might appear to be more “junket” than serious forum for the exchange of scientific ideas – but that would be a gross misrepresentation. As part of Dovetail Genomics’ (Part of Cantata Bio LLC) event sponsorship, this Dovetail employee had the privilege of attending and this is a summary of my takeaways. With the return of Keystone’s in person meetings, joint sessions entitled “Epigenetics, Chromatin, Development and Disease” and ..read more

The benefits of a haplotype-resolved (true diploid) genome assembly De novo genome assemblies have traditionally been pseudo-haploid in nature. Newer, more accurate long read sequencing coupled with unbiased, restriction-enzyme-free proximity ligation technology is enabling high-quality haplotype-phased genome assemblies from a single individual. Phased haplotype blocks are now of chromosome size and are beginning to uncover the true structure of plant and animal diploid genomes. At Dovetail, we are continually looking for ways to enrich our datasets to provide our customers with genome asse ..read more

What Do You Get When Academia and Industry Come Together To Discuss Epigenetics? November 16th marked the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Boston Epigenetics Society. With over 800 scientists in attendance to learn about the latest research from Dr. David Sinclair, Professor in the Department of Genetics, and co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School, the society kick-off was extremely well attended making it a huge success. Dr. Sinclair’s talk, entitled “Next-gen Epigenetics to Understand Why We Age”, focused on the role of epigenet ..read more

Saving Our Endangered Species One Genome At A Time Revive & Restore (R&R) and Dovetail Genomics (DTG) co-sponsored their inaugural Conservation Genomics Summit on October 27, 2021.  This virtual event brought six prominent conservation biologists together with an audience of more than 350 to discuss the application of genomics tools to the preservation of biodiversity. The invited speakers and the attendees engaged with one another and had their questions answered by speakers through live Q&A, chats, and a networking breaks in between sessions. In this blog, I will provide a ..read more

DT-Epi Summit Brings Together Scientists From Across The Globe On September 15th, Dovetail Genomics held its first Epigenetics Summit (DT-Epi 2021) on how nucleosome-based approaches have advanced our understanding of chromatin conformation and its role in gene regulation. “Fast, furious, and loud” were some of the words used to describe this 4-hour event packed with exciting science delivered by leading researchers in the field of epigenetics. The summit was attended by over 400 scientists who engaged with one another and had their questions answered by speakers through live Q&A, chats ..read more

Going Beyond Science: Philanthropy at Dovetail Here at Dovetail Genomics®, we believe strongly in corporate social responsibility and employee well-being. This year, our team came together to discuss the culture we want to foster, and refined our core values, something we take seriously and are proud to share: Boldness, Excellence, Curiosity, Integrity, Community, and Creativity We also set philanthropic goals for ourselves, which include: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion to promote employee satisfaction and innovation Community Involvement & Volunteerism to provide employees a ..read more