• Question: Is it more difficult to sequence a tree lichen since it consists of multiple organisms?

    Asked by topquestionsfromchat to Tree Lichen on 22 Nov 2017.
    • Photo: Tree Lichen

      Tree Lichen answered on 22 Nov 2017:

      Very good question! Using the techniques offered by the 25 genome project this should not prove an obstacle. PacBio technique can produce sequencing data over 3 million base pairs in length while illumine gives 200 base reads at very high coverage so that over-lapping sequences can be joined. Combining both sets of data together should enable all the component organisms to have the genomes completed. It would require computer biologists (bioinformatics specialists) to enable this data to be fully analysed along with specialists in Lichen biology and molecular biology.

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