Hello,
I'm trying to develop a proposal to investigate the genome of a wild bird species. Since these birds are very fragile and active, very hard to catch. So I'm considering some non invasive DNA collection methods. My intention is to sequence their whole genome and I'm wondering that DNA extracted from naturally shed feathers are going to fulfill that or not. If somebody know this will be OK or any other methods to sequence whole genome apart from DNA from blood (in birds), please keep me posted.
Thanks
Thilina
Hi Thilina,
If your intention is to sequence the whole genome, I think any tissue sample (e.g blood) can help unless you want to study the expression pattern/level in a particular tissue or organ. I don't also understand what you meant by the birds being very fragile, but you still need to get the birds in order to collect your samples.
I think you should also consider what whole genome sequence can tell you in comparison to for example mitochondrial genome or ribosomal RNA sequence. I am thinking you may get "more bang for your buck" by sequencing the mitochondrial genomes of feathers from many individuals of the species than the complete cellular genome of one individual. How many other complete genomes of related species are available? What will the cost be of assembly and annotation of the genome? I have seen many bacterial "complete genome" projects end up as several hundred modest sized contigs rather than a finished chromosome, and with the annotation leaving much to be desired.
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