First Nations seek data sovereignty through salmon genome project
A multi-partner First Nations project is being developed on Vancouver Island’s west coast. Genomics studies an organism’s DNA, its functions and the specific genetic adaptations that improve survival in certain environments. Over the decades, the Nanaimo lab has built an extensive library of salmon genomics data from populated streams along the coast. However, demand for genomics analytics has long outpaced the lab’s capacity, resulting in long wait times since the early 2000s.
Picco reached out to Ben Sutherland, an adjunct professor at Vancouver Island University and founder of Sutherland Bioinformatics, to work out how to successfully genotype fish samples outside the DFO. First is developing remote genotyping capability by using a hand-held Nanopore sequencer. “We've started sequencing on the nanopore at VIU in a nice clean lab environment, and then we'll slowly get closer and closer to genotyping in the field . .
One downside of the Nanopore sequencer is that it processes fewer samples than a larger one. “We need to make sure that those results keep matching what we expect them to because if we can’t, it’s like apples to oranges,” said Sutherland. The second part of the project involves building analysis software that can successfully compare the results to the DFO library.
The project began with a court case in which the five nations asserted their right to run the fisheries in their territories based on their own priorities. A judge required DFO and the nations to work together to manage fisheries based on the nations’ needs. “Candace started this project with VIU and other partners to develop capacity within the nations to run their own genetic samples,” said Dick.
“Because if we have the tools and the means to collect samples and run them, we can get results on any of the samples we collect... The project has captured the attention of other First Nations. “This helps develop genetic capacity more broadly for all First Nations with a common method and having our results be comparable with each other,” said Picco.
” “When you put the tool into more hands, you never know what creative different ways that different groups are going to use it for,” said Sutherland. “It really shows the breadth of utilities. It’s one of the most valuable tools I've seen in my career for application and conservation. ”
Picco reached out to Ben Sutherland, an adjunct professor at Vancouver Island University and founder of Sutherland Bioinformatics, to work out how to successfully genotype fish samples outside the DFO. First is developing remote genotyping capability by using a hand-held Nanopore sequencer. “We've started sequencing on the nanopore at VIU in a nice clean lab environment, and then we'll slowly get closer and closer to genotyping in the field . .
One downside of the Nanopore sequencer is that it processes fewer samples than a larger one. “We need to make sure that those results keep matching what we expect them to because if we can’t, it’s like apples to oranges,” said Sutherland. The second part of the project involves building analysis software that can successfully compare the results to the DFO library.
The project began with a court case in which the five nations asserted their right to run the fisheries in their territories based on their own priorities. A judge required DFO and the nations to work together to manage fisheries based on the nations’ needs. “Candace started this project with VIU and other partners to develop capacity within the nations to run their own genetic samples,” said Dick.
“Because if we have the tools and the means to collect samples and run them, we can get results on any of the samples we collect... The project has captured the attention of other First Nations. “This helps develop genetic capacity more broadly for all First Nations with a common method and having our results be comparable with each other,” said Picco.
” “When you put the tool into more hands, you never know what creative different ways that different groups are going to use it for,” said Sutherland. “It really shows the breadth of utilities. It’s one of the most valuable tools I've seen in my career for application and conservation. ”
Source:
View Original Article