A note for Nowlan Freese and Paige Kulzer: I can submit the abstract this evening or tomorrow. If possible, could you take a look at the abstract draft today and let me know if you have any suggestions or concerns about it?

Ann Loraine - Paige has made edits to the abstract here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hERYVbKeZOts4j1sJ58PUCGNihvnRdkxTkyyPjJRT00/edit?usp=sharing

Here's that final, edited version:

Presentation Title: A new genome visualization resource for exploring and visually analyzing RNA-Seq gene expression data for tardigrades (Hypsibius exemplaris and Ramazzottius varieornatus)

Abstract (one paragraph, 2000 character limit, any funding sources to be included in the last sentence):
The tardigrade species Hypsibius exemplaris is an emerging model system for understanding the evolution of animal development. Its transparent embryos, rapid generation time, ease of cultivation in laboratory settings, and small genome size make this microscopic invertebrate amenable to genome-scale assays such as RNA-Seq gene expression analysis. Other tardigrade species, including Ramazzottius varieornatus, offer models for studying resilience in the face of extreme environmental stresses, such as ionizing radiation. However, advanced genomics visualization resources for tardigrade species are lacking in comparison to other invertebrates important in developmental biology and stress resilience studies. To address this, we developed a new genome browser resource for tardigrades using the Integrated Genome Browser, an open-source genome browser well-suited for visual analysis of functional genomics data sets, especially data from scaffold (incomplete) genome assemblies like those currently available for tardigrades. This new resource contains published RNA-Seq datasets downloaded from public archives as original sequence data and then re-aligned to tardigrade genome assemblies downloaded from Genbank. The re-processed data includes sequence alignments, useful for comparing genetic differences across species, and scaled coverage graphs, useful for observing differentially expressed genes between experimental samples. In addition, researchers can use the browser to visualize their own data alongside the public, re-processed data, making it easier to interpret their work and understand its significance and impact. The Integrated Genome Browser is freely-available from bioviz.org. An award from NIH NIGMS (R35GM139609) provided funding.

Submitted abstract attached.

• Poster Theme: Emerging Research Organisms
• Do you wish to be considered for a poster teaser (One minute to present one slide about your research to entice attendees to visit your poster)?: Yes
• Short Talk Theme (1st choice): Developmental Mechanisms for Environmental Adaptation
• Short Talk Theme (2nd choice): Stem Cells and Regeneration
• Presenting Author: Nowlan Freese, nowlan.freese@gmail.com

May 9, 2024

Dear Nowlan Freese,

Thank you for submitting an abstract to present at the Society for Developmental Biology 83rd Annual Meeting. I regret to inform you that you were not selected to give a short talk this year.

Your abstract A new genome visualization resource for exploring and visually analyzing RNA-Seq gene expression data for tardigrades (Hypsibius exemplaris and Ramazzottius varieornatus) will instead be scheduled for poster presentation.

Poster session assignments will be sent out mid-June. If you have not yet registered for the annual meeting, we encourage you to do so by May 15 for the early, discounted registration rate. Visit the SDB Annual Meeting website for meeting updates.

We look forward to seeing you.

SDB 83rd Annual Meeting Program Committee

Society for Developmental Biology

6120 Executive Blvd. Suite 725

Rockville, MD 20852

301.634.7815

www.sdbonline.org