Software for the analysis of DNA fingerprints. GelQuest is the software of choice for the analysis of DNA fingerprint data and DNA fragment analysis. It works in a fast and efficient way with trace files (FSA files) as well as with gel image files (TIFF, JPG, BMP, etc.) and handles AFLP, t-RFLP, ERIC-PCR, RFLP-PCR or RAPD data.

GelQuest Features:
GelQuest imports trace data curves from the following formats:
1. Trace file formats: ABI FSA format, Beckman SCF files, MegaBACE RSD files
2. Gel images: BMP, TIFF, JPG, GIF, SGI, Autodesk, Targa, PCX, PCD, Portable Map, CUT, RLA, Photoshop, Paintshop, PortableNetwork, EPS

Data management and processing:
1. Project files are saved in XML format and contain trace data, peak data, size standard data, etc. They are small because trace data are included as zip-compressed CDATA sections. Easy incorporation of GelQuest samples and projects into databases and database applications.
2. Semi-automatic lane extraction from gel images: Easy extraction from a series of image formats. Full UNDO functionality to the image import steps. Smile correction. Correction of distorted gel runs.
3. Supports up to 5-color channel fingerprinting systems
4. Trace signal processing: smoothing, baselining
5. Peak detection with realtime preview: Advanced SequentiX peak digger algorithm. Many peak detection and filtering parameters.
6. Fragment sizing: see below
7. Allows for the comparison (binning) of fragments even if no size standard lane is available
8. Create/Edit user-defined size standard templates
9. Comes with predefined standard templates

Sample management:
1. Detailed information on each sample
2. Renaming (edit sample names)
3. Rearrange samples within a project by drag and drop
4. Remove/Add samples from the project
5. Analyse individual samples

Data Visualisation (graphics)
1. Select the color channels to display
2. Display as curves, color or greyscale pseudogel images
3. Show/Hide peak locations
4. Toggle between raw and processed data
5. Scale by base size or datapoints
6. Adjust all scaling parameters
7. Various zoom functions (zoom in, zoom out, zoom in range)
8. For each peak detailed information is available on the fly
9. Adjust the scaling parameters, e.g. normalization of RFU values to whole run or to the visible region.
10. Peak detail window with peak height, width, area, height-to-width-ratio, datapoint, size

Easy handling
This is a screenshot of GelQuest's main window showing the trace panel with peak details in the upper region and the hyperbin table in the lower part of the window:

Size standard definition
Use your own size standards and generate size standard template files that can be used to size any of your samples. Automatic size standard matching for fragments with size standard templates. Local Southern algorithm for exact peak sizing. Peaks occuring above the highest and below the smallest size standard peak are sized by linear regression. Allows sizing and hyperbinning of fragments with any length (also suitable for pulse field gel electrophoresis data). Allows for the comparison/binning of fragments even if no size standard lane is available. Definition of user-defined size standard templates from samples. Comes with several predefined standard templates.

Hyperbins (Superbins)
1. Automatic hyperbin detection and on-the-fly visualisation of corresponding bins in a hyperbin-table
2. Lucid presentation of hyperbins by base sizes, heights, areas, area-to-height-ratios or as a 0/1 matrix
3. Include or exclude sample peaks by clicking with the right mouse button on a trace peak or the hyperbin table
4. Adjust hyperbin detection parameters and filter peaks by height, area, height to width ratio or other parameters
5. The maximum hyperbin width is automatically adjusted to the maximum base size of peaks divided by 2.
6. Filter by channels
7. Advanced local maximum detection algorithm
8. Bin = a single peak of a single sample
9. Superbin = a container on sample level with a defined width (e.g. 1 base) containing bins (peaks) of a single sample
10. Hyperbin = a container on project level containing bins and superbins of serveral samples
11. Export of hyperbins for spread sheet applications in tab-delimited tables
12. Export hypberbins as 01 matrix files for cluster analyses (supported formats: Paup NEXUS, Phylip NEWICK and FASTA)
13. Start add-on analysis tool ClusterVis to perform cluster analysis or principal coordinate analysis (PCoA).

Export Formats
1. Trace files (FSA format)
2. Trace data (raw or processed) scaled by base sizes or datapoints into tab-delimited tables for spead sheeth applications
3. Peak data in tab-delimited files
4. Hyperbins as a table
5. 01-matrix files for cluster analyses (supported formats: Paup NEXUS, Phylip NEWICK and FASTA)

ClusterVis (Add-On Software)
1. Cluster-Analysis of binary data
2. 01 matrix import, export, editing
3. 01 matrix import, export, editing
4. Takes over 01-matrices directly from GelQuest
5. Distance matrix import, export, copy
6. Calculation of distance matrices. Over 50 distance measures are already implemented. 26 measures are evaluated and available in the current release.
7. Cluster analysis using UPGMA and Neighbor-Joining algorithms
8. Visualization, saving and copying of cluster trees: radial tree, cladogram, elliptogram, phylogram
9. Testing of robustness of trees: Bootstrapping, Jack-knifing
10. Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA)

Limitations:
* Save Option is disabled

The license of this software is Free Trial Software, you can free download and get a free trial.