What is Bits & Bites?
A semi-regular meeting at the Genome Center to discuss bioinformatics, genomics, and all things relating to sequence analysis. As of June 2013, we also hope to start some regular training material about Unix, Perl, and coding in general. We aim to cover a range of basic, intermediate, and advanced material, but we'll also be encouraging people to bring their own problems to the table.
Who talks at Bits & Bites?
We like to keep things informal and sometimes we just discuss things in a very open manner (while some of us munch on our lunch...hence the 'Bites' in Bits & Bites). However, most often one or more people volunteer to lead a discussion on a specific topic and present data and/or slides that will educate the rest of us. These presentations are often short to allow time to discuss things afterwards. Every now and again, we have a speaker from industry or a visiting scholar from another university.
What topics have you discussed?
Some of the previous discussions have concerned: RNA Seq, sequence assembly, SNP calling, use of revision control software, HMMs, sequence alignment, next generation sequencing, large-scale compuing, genome databases, genotyping, working with Illumina data, PacBio sequencing, working with 'big' data, advantages/disadvantages of different programming languages.
Who attends?
Grad students, post-docs, project scientists, PIs, and other interested parties.
When do you meet?
Thursdays at 12:00 in room 4202 of the Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility (map)...but not every Thursday, see next point.
How do I find out more?
Join the (low-traffic) Bits & Bites mailing list which is mostly used to announce new meetings, but is also a resource in itself (a way of quickly reaching out to other bioinformaticians on campus):
Send an email to sympa@ucdavis.edu. In the subject line of your message, type: subscribe bitsandbites Jim Watson (replace with your name). Leave the message body blank.
Korf Lab in the news
Jun 26, 2015: Keith Bradnam is interviewed by Frontline Genomics Magazine about his life in Bioinformatics.
Apr 8, 2015: Ian Korf is quoted in a Nature commentary article about Bioinformatics Service cores and the need for beter career paths for bioinformaticians.
Mar 16, 2015: Danielle Lemay is interviewed by the UC Davis News team about the new publication by herself, Kristen Beck (lead author), Ian Korf and others that describes new milk proteomes for human and macaque.
Apr 22, 2013: The Assemblathon 2 paper has won the 2013 BioMed Central Open Data award
Dec 10, 2013: A short piece in the UC Davis Alumni Magazine that discusses the new Genomics undergraduate major that Ian Korf co-developed.
Nov 26, 2013: Ian Korf writes a News & Views piece for Nature Methods about two new comparisons of programs that work with RNA-seq data
Nov 1, 2013: Keith B. and Kristen are both featured in a piece on Inquiring Minds as part of the new One UC Davis campaign.
Quick Links
Unix & Perl for Biologists
Our free 175-page primer that teaches the basics of Unix & Perl
Unix & Perl to the RESCUE!
Our book that greatly expands on our free primer.
Bits & Bites
A regular discussion forum at the Genome Center for all things relating to sequence analysis
UC Davis Genome Center
Where we work
UC Davis Bioinformatics Core
Part of the Genome Center
Contact Us
For questions or comments about the website, please e-mail:
korflab AT ucdavis DOT edu
Contact information for specific members of our lab can be found on their personal pages.