Genomics as a global science: on the production, use, and sharing of sequence data

This dissertation is built upon five distinct efforts (manuscripts) organized into three chapters on the production, use, and sharing of genomic data. First, we show a way forward for engaging traditionally underrepresented populations in genomics. In the completion of that project, we build eight haploid genome assemblies, which importantly, they show new, consistent structural variation across assemblies. We compare them to publicly available assemblies as they pertain to unaligned contig placement from ~900 third party persons. These experiments make a case for the use of draft genome assembly products as an opportunity for scientific and social advancement in genomics. We then move onto data use, and two efforts, one in viral genomics and one in human genomics. These projects make use of publicly available tools and methods to draw conclusions and set standards for analysis. We look across these studies for some generalizable conclusions, including that there simply are not enough publicly available data for the kinds of public health and medical tasks at hand for the biomedical community. Finally, we look to openness and science diplomacy, as the production and use of data are enhanced by the sharing of data. However, this sharing is only possible within a culture of openness and cooperation, or at least détente, between nations. We conclude that, for genomics to be a truly global, representative science, there must be cooperation and understanding between and among peoples with respect for what is past, the state of the present, and all possible futures.

Author

• LoTempio, Jonathan Edward

Language

• en

Keyword

• Genome assembly
• Genomics
• Open Science
• Science diplomacy
• Africa
• Bioinformatics

Date created

• 2023

Type of Work

• Dissertation

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Genomics and Bioinformatics

Degree

• Ph.D.

Advisor

• Vilain, Eric

Committee Member(s)

• Gordish-Dressman, Heather
• Dubois, Michel
• Caldovic, Ljubica
• Morizono, Hiroki
• Orti, Guillermo
• Li, Wei

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/ns064668n