Comparative metagenomics: lecture
Trainer: Alejandra Escobar-Zepeda
Overview: Metagenomics is the study of genetic material(s) recovered directly from environmental samples. The analysis of metagenomic datasets from high-throughput sequencing is aimed at determining the biological diversity (e.g. taxonomic composition, functional potential etc) of microbial communities of interest as an ecological entity. Comparative metagenomics provides a powerful tool set for highlighting the differences between groups of samples, and is now commonly used to analyse samples across different timepoints, states of health, and geographical locations etc. This theoretical session will cover some key methods for comparative metagenomic analysis. We will review methods for whole community comparisons and tools that discern taxon-specific group associations in a differential abundance analysis.
Learning outcomes:
After this session you should be able to:
- Define what comparative metagenomics is and its pros and cons
- Summarise the principal steps of a comparative metagenomics workflow
Materials: