Analysis Methods for Nanopore Sequencing Data

Over the last four years nanopore-based sequencing instruments have become widely available. The portable MInION instrument can sequence extremely long molecules of DNA, which greatly simplifies de novo genome assembly. However, the data is challenging to analyze because the perturbations of electrical current which reveal the DNA sequence are subtle. In my talk I will discuss my group’s efforts to address these analysis challenges through modeling the electric current signal, leading to software for improved consensus calling, SNP calling and detecting base modifications like 5-methylcytosine. I will also discuss how our software enables novel applications of this technology and our current work on directly characterizing RNA molecules.