Keywords
Genomics research, field guide, experimental design
Abstract
High-throughput technologies are enabling scientists to profile genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes at an unprecedented scale [1]. All this “-omics” research (let's call it genomics for simplicity) is exciting—and game changing—but it's also fraught with dangers for the tenderfoot. Here, we've put together a brief “field guide” for those wishing to visit the genomics frontier, in which we use caricatures to illustrate various pitfalls that can beset those who inhabit this new territory. By documenting the behaviors of these common types, we hope to guide researchers in their quest to apply sound practices when designing genomics experiments and analyzing the resulting data. Many of the tendencies we have encountered are not specific to genomics research, but they are particularly acute in this field due to its interdisciplinary nature and the complexity of the data it produces.
Drawing upon our own experiences in various roles on genomics projects—and at the risk of generalizing—we note the prevalence of no fewer than six different character traits that lead to problems in experimental design (“the farmer”), data interpretation (“the gold miner” and “the cowboy”), collaboration (“the hermit” and “the master and servant”), and civic virtue (“the jailer”). This list is not comprehensive, but we hope it will guide new adventurers in the approaches and attitudes needed to stake their claim in this novel terrain.
Original Publication Citation
Bild AH, Chang JT, Johnson WE, Piccolo SR. “A field guide to genomics research.” PLOS Biology 2014, 1:12, e1001744
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Bild, Andrea H.; Chang, Jeffrey T.; Johnson, W. Evan; and Piccolo, Stephen R., "A Field Guide to Genomics Research" (2014). Faculty Publications. 7473.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/7473
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2014-01-07
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Language
English
College
Life Sciences
Department
Biology
Copyright Use Information
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