Desert Life Sciences Laboratory (DLSL)
The Desert Life Sciences Laboratory (DLSL) is an advanced genomic research facility established jointly with BGI, China. The laboratory has some of the latest biotechnological equipment, including the next-generation sequencing platform (DNBSEQ-G400RS). The laboratory is designed to conduct whole genome re-sequencing, genotyping-by-sequencing, metagenomics, transcriptomics, small RNA sequencing and other types of research.
The laboratory's broad objectives include:
- Supporting the development of more resilient genotypes of various crops suited to marginal environments through genomic approaches.
- Conducting the molecular characterization and genomic analysis of plant genetic resources available at ICBA’s genebank to ensure their efficient utilization for crop breeding and improvement in marginal environments.
- Promoting the use of genomic and biotechnological approaches and tools through individual and institutional capacity development in different countries.
Services
- Soil metagenome analysis. Soil metagenome analysis is used for studying the microbial diversity in soil.
- Transcriptome sequencing. Transcriptome sequencing is a next-generation sequencing technique to study the presence and quantity of RNA in a biological sample.
- Genotyping by sequencing (GBS). Genotyping by sequencing (GBS) is used for identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) by re-sequencing the genomes to perform genotyping studies.
- Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS). Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) are used for obtaining candidate genes/loci associated with phenotypic traits by studying the linkage disequilibrium between markers and phenotypic characteristics.
- Whole genome sequencing (WGS). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is a comprehensive method for determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome.