SLU Metabarcoding Laboratory UMBLA

The SLU Metabarcoding Laboratory (UMBLA) is a new infrastructure that provides theoretical and experimental expertise as well as laboratory facilities for molecular species identification and organismal community analysis. We offer state of the art research support in both basic and applied sciences for SLU researchers. Recent technology development has opened up for large scale analysis of organismal communities at a detail that previously was not possible. Molecular high-throughput analysis of species communities has largely developed in the areas of microbiology, e.g. mycology and bacteriology, but can be applied in most fields of agriculture, forestry, ecology and environmental monitoring.

There is a need for hands-on support and wet lab facilities, in order to make the metabarcoding technology accessible to researchers in fields were molecular labs are not an integrated part of the capacities. UMBLA provides access to these rapidly advancing methods to a wide group of researchers, including those whose main activities are outside molecular ecology.

UMBLA offers support for extraction of DNA from diverse material, amplification of molecular markers, and preparation of amplicon pools for large scale sequencing. The actual DNA sequencing will preferentially be carried out in collaboration with SciLifeLab but can also be purchased from commercial operators. Sequences analysis, bioinformatics and short-term data storage will be supported by the platform. The SLU biobank can be engaged in sample handling and storage. We will instruct and teach researchers about the technology. The center will also function as a hub for integration and networking between different fields of research spanning from gut microflora over soil, wood and airborne organismal communities and functional ecology to aquatic systems with microtomes and fishes.

Contact

Åke Olson