Meeting Abstract
Transposable elements are sequences of DNA which appear multiple times throughout a genome. This is because the transposons are able to jump around the genome, often bringing with them sections of surrounding DNA. Many crustaceans, including terrestrial isopods, have large genomes which include ample amounts of transposons within them. In our current research, we aim to identify and characterize the transposable elements in the genome of the terrestrial isopod Trachelipus rathkei. Using RepeatModeler, we are annotating the different types of transposable elements in this species’s genome. We are also testing a novel and hopefully high-efficiency approach, using high-frequency kmers identified directly from raw Illumina sequencing data to identify families of repetitive elements. This will provide a foundation for future genomic studies in terrestrial isopods.
