Alumni
This person is a member of Sanger Institute Alumni.
I currently worked on using long reads of RNA-seq models to improve the annotation of non-coding genes, or to create novel ones. I am happy to have taken an active part in the annotation of the long non-coding genes, which has progressed tremendously over the years. I worked meticulously and I have been involved in a number of mini-projects of the team, such as in verifying non-coding genes tested experimentally by our partners.
The absence of translation or protein product in non-coding genes makes it tricky to annotate, if not difficult. For example, since there is no methionine, which usually marks the canonical transcription start site (TSS), we rely on some genomic feature alignment such as CAGE (cap analysis of gene expression) tags and other software-predicted TSS to support transcription, together with the correct splicing junctions. We are now starting to explore the use of NGS technologies to help us improve and fast track, most specially on annotating the non-coding genes.
I am passionate about my work. For one thing, HAVANA genome annotation is strongly experimentally evidence-based. This keeps me very much in touch with the laboratory world (which was what I used to do), while doing computer work on my desk. In theory, our annotation should be error-free, as the datasets we generate are used by the larger science community. Any erroneous data might proliferate uncontrollably, with annotation that is incorrect, or not thorough and comprehensive. Hence, the job of an annotator is not an easy one. Our robust system- the software, the annotation rules and guidelines and the QC and consistency check- all these contribute so we are able to produce such ‘gold standard genome annotation’ that is now widely used and adopted. Being able to help polish genome information, refine it, revise, update or attach expert remarks – and all things that a genome annotator can do for science, is a great task I am proud of.
My timeline
Joined the HAVANA team of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
Lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines- handled undergraduate health informatics course under the health sciences program.
Consultant at the International Rice Research Institute' Biotechnology Laboratory- worked on rice gene regulatory mechanism under the rice biofortification project.
Associate Scientist at the International Rice Research Institute - worked on genome and literature curation and on global collaboration in Plant Ontology.
Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines Open University--Faculty and Tutor for biology courses and faculty member, graduate program in education.
Affiliate faculty- handled basic courses on bioinformatics and graduate level genetics of the molecular biology and biotechnology program of the University of the Philippines Los Banos.
PhD in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of the Philippines.
PhD dissertation work at the National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, USA- worked on mapping of susceptibility region for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
PhD scholar of the Philippines' Department of Science and Technology.
Master of Science in Microbiology from the University of the Philippines Los Banos.
University Researcher and Project Leader at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Los Banos-isolated and worked on a number of bacteria of industrial importance, focusing on biodegradable plastic production.