Use Cases Enviro

This page describes the progress of all use cases related to environmental DNA and environmental samples. For all use cases described below we are currently working on stable test examples, that one can follow. If already available we will use real examples to play with.

Note: Until further notice the real examples will look very different in the production portal and in the sandbox! All examples refer to the sandbox. The test examples are of course not included in the production portal.

Background

Environmental sample data are causing trouble regarding proper mapping with ABCD and Darwin Core. The traditional way of a few identifications for a single specimen is not working here. Since the eDNA itself can be stored similar to gDNA, this topic is of interest for GGBN and we must find a solution. Currently a working mapping with ABCDGGBN_Enviro exist. As soon as this works as required, a solution for DwC-A will be created as well.

eDNA from abiotic eSample

This is a simple parent-child relation. The difficult issue is the big amount of taxa resulting from BLAST/sequencing. They should be displayed without confusion. Also one should be able to search for all included taxa without confusion regarding the hitlist.

Stable test example: http://sandbox.ggbn.org/ggbn_sandbox/search/record?unitID=DB+e200000&collectioncode=DNA+Bank&institutioncode=B The raw ABCD file can be retrieved by clicking on the links to the left.

Suggestion List

Search for "Achnanthidium" finds genomic and environmental samples

Search results for a taxon that occurrs in an environmental sample should be clearly distinguished from genomic DNA samples. Solved by the following phrase: Mame 'xyz' appears in environmental sample(s) or eDNA

Next:

• Include the Krona example: http://www.ggbn.org/ggbn_portal/documents/krona.html
  • Will place it in a separate tab right to “Taxon List”. How should I name the tab? Since others might use other graph tools than Krona it should be named generically.
• Add the Dryad resource for the raw data
• Add Loan information for the enviro sample
• Do the same thing with DwC-A
• Improve the portal search
  • scientific name in the hitlist makes no sense
  • search for ALL names not yet working
  • search for eDNA not yet working
  • search for eSamples not yet working

gDNA, culture, specimen, abiotic eSample, eDNA

This is a complex parent-child relation. The gDNA points to the culture. The specimen also points to the culture. Both specimen and culture points to the eSample. In addition the eSample is the mother of hundreds of further cultures, specimens, gDNA samples and of course a eDNA sample.

Real example: http://sandbox.ggbn.org/ggbn_sandbox/search/record?unitID=DB+8219_D03_030&collectioncode=DNA+Bank&institutioncode=B

eSample from biotic environment

In comparison to the abiotic eSample this one has a main taxon, e.g. the animal or plant which serves as the environment. This makes a difference in search and display.

Real example: http://localhost/ggbn_sandbox/search/record?unitID=AA1BN60&collectioncode=Birds&institutioncode=USNM

eDNA or eSample from ancient material

Coming soon.