This is an extremely exciting time for population genomic studies. The recent advent of powerful next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques allows us to examine genetic variation at unprecedented scales, at the whole-genome level and with single nucleotide resolution. The continuing technological improvements and the dropping costs of these methods means that even single labs can now generate terabytes of sequence data very rapidly a relatively low cost. However, the resulting data are typically used to address only a very limited number of specific questions, so that the overall value of these data sets for the community as a whole is somewhat limited. To foster the integration and exchange of population genomic information, we therefore propose that individual European labs build up a joint effort in collecting and generating population genomic data for Drosophila species across Europe. A similar consortium already exists in the US, coordinated by Alan Bergland, Dmitri Petrov and Paul Schmidt -- this US-organized consortium has already successfully generated recent fly collections and genome data, which are currently being analyzed. We would like to extend these efforts by initiating a similar initiative focused on Europe.

Some of the issues we would like to tackle as a network:

Some of the main issues we are interested in exploring with your active help are: 

(1) How to develop a collaborative strategy for sampling different European Drosophila populations through space and time in order to generate a unique European collection of samples for future sequence (and possibly phenotype) analysis.

(2) How to best generate high-quality sequence data from such samples.

(3) How to optimally integrate the resulting data and information so that it can be used to answer a wide range of questions.

(4) We would also like to explore potential funding opportunities that could be used to support regular meetings of the network and that would foster scientific exchange and collaboration among the labs involved.

This website represents the communication platform for the members of the European Drosophila Population Genomics Consortium (DrosEU). 

 Please contact us if you need further information: droseu.user@gmail.com