Sampling for genomics studies across the tree of life

Last Friday, December 5th, the ERGA Sampling & Sample Processing Committee hosted its very first Taxon Sampling SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) “Hackathon”. Following an open invitation to the entire ERGA community, more than 80 people registered to join the event. Participants split into subgroups according to their taxonomic expertise and worked together to advance taxon-specific instructions to sample biological material for genome sequencing.

ERGA’s Sampling SOPs include guidelines for the collection, documentation, vouchering, preservation, and shipping of samples for genomic research. SOPs for 17 different taxa across the tree of life are currently being developed, many of which were initiated during the Hackathon:

• Fungi

• Bryophytes

• Woody plants

• Herbaceous plants

• Aquatic plants 

• Microalgae from cultures

• Salmonids

• Freshwater fish

• Amphibians

• Carnivorous mammals

• Lepidoptera

• Coleoptera

• Diptera

• Terrestrial arthropods

• Ectoparasites — mites, fleas, lice

• Porifera

• Terrestrial invertebrates

Would you like to join one of the SOP working groups or start a new group for a taxonomic group not yet covered? Get in touch with the SSP Committee via samples@erga-biodiversity.eu!

The development of these SOPs is greatly facilitated by the ERGA SSP Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Template, which has been carefully developed by the committee over the past months. This template offers a standardized structure for the SOPs, provides important background information, and outlines the key sections each document should include.

The groups will continue their collaborative work, and all new SOPs will be made available early next year in an open-access repository. We would like to thank everyone who joined the Hackathon, and especially the SSP team, for organizing this very productive event!