Work

A Nanopore-Only Assembly of a Nuclear and Mitochondrial Genome of a Red Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum piceus)

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ) generated exclusively with nanopore sequencing. Using Hifiasm-ONT for assembly and RagTag for scaffold polishing, we produced a 1.61 Gb nuclear genome comprising 8 macrochromosomes and 10 microchromosomes with a 97.7% BUSCO completeness score. Annotation with LiftOn found 19,832 loci, including 18,025 protein-coding genes. The mitochondrial genome, assembled with MitoHiFi and annotated with MitoFinder, was 17,119 bp with 13 coding genes, 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs. All sequencing was performed in a simulated mobile laboratory using a portable sequencer and a laptop with analyses done both locally and remotely. These results highlight the feasibility of decentralized genomics and its potential to accelerate biodiversity research globally.

Source: Genes

DOI: 10.3390/genes17030307

Authors: Alan F. Scott, David W. Mohr

Institutions: Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funder: Johns Hopkins University