(1093-B) Ancient Genomics: Semi-automated High-Throughput Workflow for the Preparation of Libraries for Next Generation Sequencing

Abstract: A semi-automated high-throughput pipeline for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) has been set up at the GeoGenetics Centre of the Lundbeck Foundation. A total of 5,000 genomes from ancient material were analyzed to investigate the evolutionary history of neurological and mental diseases over the last 10,000 years. The generation of the libraries required a comprehensive workflow that included automated steps for bead-based purification, sequencing library pooling and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) setup for library quantification.
The automation of the processes on the CyBio FeliX liquid handling platform by Analytik Jena improved the efficiency and reproducibility of the results, reduced human error, and increased the overall throughput of the project by 170fold. The flexibility of CyBio FeliX made it possible to adapt to specific workflows and thus successfully overcome challenges relating to the quantity and quality of ancient DNA. The results show a comparable quality between automated and manual steps and emphasize the reliability and benefits of automation in large genome projects. The automated workflow not only streamlines laboratory processes but also contributes to the long-term well-being of employees by minimizing repetitive tasks, highlighting the potential benefits of automation in genomics research.