How is Python being used to automate processes in the laboratory? How can it speed up scientific work with DNA sequencing? This week on the show, Chemical Engineering PhD Student Parsa Ghadermazi is here to discuss Python in bioinformatics. 👉 Links from the show: https://realpython.com/podcasts/rpp/197/ Parsa provides background on his research and the bioinformatic techniques used to discover gut microbes' role in human health and diseases. We talk about automating lab experiments with liquid handling robots and Python. We dig into libraries to shatter and reassemble DNA sequences. Parsa also shares current projects from the Chan Lab at Colorado State University and his GitHub repository. Topics: - 00:00:00 -- Introduction - 00:01:51 -- Engineering Background and Current PhD Program - 00:05:52 -- What is Bioinformatics? - 00:08:11 -- Where do you use Python in the lab? - 00:10:35 -- Using lab robotics - 00:15:22 -- Python development environment - 00:16:33 -- Lab robotics allow for precision - 00:19:03 -- How are using these tools for research? - 00:22:14 -- What are the techniques for measurements? - 00:26:17 -- Video Course Spotlight - 00:27:33 -- How is the data output from the machine? - 00:29:20 -- Moving into DNA sequencing and extraction - 00:32:08 -- Shattering to work with smaller DNA sequences - 00:34:34 -- Python libraries for DNA re-assembly - 00:36:28 -- Building ADToolbox - 00:40:24 -- How do you store the data? - 00:41:32 -- Inferring microbial interactions - 00:44:02 -- Types of hardware used for these projects - 00:47:07 -- What are you excited about in the world of Python? - 00:48:09 -- What do you want to learn next? - 00:49:16 -- How can people follow your work online? - 00:50:00 -- Thanks and goodbye 👉 Links from the show: https://realpython.com/podcasts/rpp/197/