Contents

DNA·VIEW NEWSLETTER #15

April 24, 2000

New and revised commands

Genotyper (and Genomyx) import

are options under the Import/Export command.

The import requires an ASCII text file of the proper format. In the Genotyper software, use the "Make allele table" option (Apple-5), then select the Table tab to export it as an Excel table. Then open it in Excel and save it as tab-delimited Ascii. Move it to the PC where DNA·VIEW is.

Choose the Genotyper import (or Genomyx M.W. import) option of Import/Export, type in the full path of the subdirectory that contains the file(s) to import, then choose the first file to import from the menu of files.

The first column of the input file (Sample Info) is not used, which is an improvement compared to the old behavior which sometimes tried to interpret it as a lane number.

The report that is prepared includes the Sample Info presented side-by-size with the membrane roster. This is useful for checking.

You can now import several versions of the same data, using different reader numbers. (If you use the same reader number twice, the second import will replace the first one.) The second and subsequent import with different readers will be compared and any differences are mentioned in the report.

The spelling of locus names – the column headings of the input file – is not critical. If any input name is not identical with a locus name in DNA·VIEW, the import process suspends and asks you to select from the locus menu to clarify.

Quality control (i.e. K562) size checking is implemented, just as with Read.

DNA exclusion

The new command DNA exclusion calculates the "exclusion probability" for a mixed stain. It is theta-sensitive. It is sensitive to the usual allele frequency computation options, including a new one Calculate crime allele frequencies simultaneously? discussed below.

Features

Case Options

DNA·VIEW 23.33 has a couple of new Case Options

Crime stain allele frequency computation

Calculate crime allele frequencies simultaneously?

works in conjunction with

Count observed allele how many times?

Suppose some database has N=100 chromosomes, that Count how many? is 1, and that alleles 10 and 11 are the alleles that are observed at some locus in a crime stain analyzed with any of the stain calculation tools. Then frequencies are calculated as
allele database frequency "simultaneously?" frequency
no yes
10 0/100 1/101 1/102
11 5/100 6/101 6/102

Obviously the results are not very different whether you use this option or not. Although it is logical, since it is a bit complicated and makes little difference the recommended setting is no. (In almost every situation no is slightly conservative.)

Reconciling "consensus" sizes

Some labs use the consensus size option for reporting the result of a paternity case in order to give consistent RFLP size results between child and parents. However, this idea becomes awkward when there are multiple children and/or possible fathers. It may be difficult to decide on a consistent size among many people (especially if extra children show up after a report has already been issued!).

DNA·VIEW will attempt (success not guaranteed) to resolve the sizes consistently among all trios in a case if you choose the option Make consensus size the same for multiple children etc.?

PATER – sort alleles

By default the PATER report shows DNA alleles that are imported from DNA·VIEW in an arrangement that reflects the pattern of allele sharing.

If you prefer to have the smaller allele for each person always listed first, go to Options, Pater report, sort alleles?, and choose y for Sort DNA alleles? and also for Sort with smaller allele first?

Customize probe/locus order

It is possible to arrange the locus list in any order you like. The order that you choose applies to the results of a Case computation, such as immigration and Paternity Case. The ordering also will apply to data imported to PATER version 13.13.

The customized order can be changed whenever a locus list is displayed. Highlight in red any locus, then use PageUp or PageDown to move the position of the locus within the list. Del moves the locus toward the end of the list.

The custom order can be accessed for DNA odds or DNA exclusion by using the # ("next locus") key.

"Popular case" memory

Suppose you want to review a recent case but can't remember the number. The Select case dialogue (e.g. Paternity Case in DNA·VIEW, retrieve in PATER) responds to the key PageUp by presenting a list of case numbers that were analyzed either recently, or often. miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Web site

www.dna-view.com is the new name for http://www.ccnet.com/~cbrenner.

There is also a new e-mail address –

chb@dna-view.com. (Web lore: Actually anything of the form xyz@dna-view.com works just as well.)

DNA·VIEW manual

The English version is about to ship.

Compact disc distribution

is the new standard for software. This is convenient because the CD has enough room for lots of extra files, including text files for the manuals and extra DNA·VIEW frequency files.

download

... DNA·VIEW or PATER. Ask me for the password.
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