The Mobilome in the Mire

For years, researchers have known that many datasets miss a key part of microbial genomes: the mobile genetic elements, or MGEs, that can move between organisms. But now, deep sequencing and new analysis methods are bringing this mobilome into light, and opening up new options for engineering these microbes in the future. Join Sarah Bagby (Case Western Reserve University) and Simon Roux (JGI) as they talk about their recent work on a time series from Sweden’s Stordalen Mire. Nature Microbiology: Mobile genetic elements shape microbial diversity and functions in thawing permafrost soilsEpisode chapters:0:00 Intro4:10 Meet our researchers, and MGEs6:34 The galaxy of possibilities that MGEs open8:15 Why MGEs have escaped analysis before11:06 How a long time series gives a clearer look at MGEs14:10 Stordalen Mire, a dynamic sample site17:37 What they did, and what they saw 25:47 Pieces — like the JGI’s sequencing support — that enabled this28:55 How this work fits in with JGI’s upcoming projects31:39 Next questions they’d like to answerAnother episode on a time series: The Megadata of Lake Mendota — Part 3: Boating Out to David BuoySubmit your own proposal to work with the JGI: http://jointgeno.me/proposals Episode Transcript: https://jgi.doe.gov//user-science/podcasts/mobilome-mireOur contact info: jgi-comms at lbl dot gov