Whole genome amplification by the multiple displacement amplification (MDA) method allows sequencing of DNA from single cells of bacteria that cannot be cultured. Assembling a genome is challenging, however, because MDA generates highly nonuniform coverage of the genome. Here we describe an algorithm tailored for short-read data from single cells that improves assembly through the use of a progressively increasing coverage cutoff. Assembly of reads from single Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus cells captures >91% of genes within contigs, approaching the 95% captured from an assembly based on many E. coli cells. We apply this method to assemble a genome from a single cell of an uncultivated SAR324 clade of Deltaproteobacteria, a cosmopolitan bacterial lineage in the global ocean. Metabolic reconstruction suggests that SAR324 is aerobic, motile and chemotaxic. Our approach enables acquisition of genome assemblies for individual uncultivated bacteria using only short reads, providing cell-specific genetic information absent from metagenomic studies.
Top 100 Cutting-Edge Science Blogs
If you’re a scientist or just a science nut, trying to keep up with the latest in the scientific news and commentary via the internet can be a dizzying task. There are literally tens of thousands of blogs ranging from broad overviews of scientific breakthroughs to in-depth coverage of a specific scientific niche. Here is a list of what is considered to be the top 100 cutting-edge science blogs, arranged by category. General These science blogs offer a little bit of everyting. Science Blog : This blog covers anything and everything science. SciGuy : Eric Berger provides readers with current events and insightful commentary. Open Parachute : This blog takes a look at a number of intriguing science topics. Science Musings : Find out about exciting things happeining in science on this blog. LiveScience : This multiple-author blog covers everything from the environment to the animal world. Scientific Frontline Communication Center : Scientific Frontline has everything from weather to space ...
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