A Guide to Carrying Out a Phylogenomic Target Sequence Capture Project.

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Evolutionary Biology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• High-throughput DNA sequencing facilitates cost-effective genome analysis.
• Target sequence capture enriches specific loci, reducing costs and bioinformatic complexity for phylogenetics.
• This method is effective across diverse evolutionary depths, yielding robust multi-locus datasets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a flowchart for designing phylogenomic target capture experiments.
• To discuss key decisions from target locus identification to data processing.
• To outline challenges and solutions for successful target capture projects.

Main Methods:

• Review of target sequence capture techniques for phylogenomics.
• Development of a flowchart for experimental design.
• Discussion of factors influencing experimental success, including taxonomic scope, sample quality, and genomic resources.

Main Results:

• Target sequence capture is a powerful approach for generating large phylogenetic datasets.
• Careful experimental design is crucial for successful target capture.
• The study provides a roadmap for researchers undertaking such projects.

Conclusions:

• Target sequence capture offers a viable and powerful method for phylogenetic studies.
• Addressing challenges related to experimental design and resources is key to success.
• This review serves as a guide for implementing effective phylogenomic target capture strategies.