SoftGenetics NextGENe sequence analysis software bar-code tool

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SoftGenetics has added a bar-code tool to its second-generation sequence analysis software, NextGENe. The software allows biologists to analyse the vast amount of data generated by next-generation sequencing systems using preprogrammed applications, an easy-to-use interface and algorithms, and quickly process the sequence and quality files on standard Windows 64-bit operating system hardware.

The bar-code tool is compatible with data generated by the SOLiD System, Illumina Genome Analyser and Roche Life Sciences FLX and Platinum Sequencer Systems.

The use of bar codes or tags allows researchers to pool or multiplex samples, which is claimed to optimise second-generation sequencing systems’ sequencing capability while reducing costs and increasing speed. This added complexity requires a software tool that is able to read the tags or bar codes in order to parse or sort patient or sample sequences.

The tool accepts the output bar-code formats coming from all instrument platforms and the bar-code sorting function can be used for files where bar codes are included in the sequence of reads or in the read name.

For multiplex data that includes bar-code tags within the sequences, the software is able to trim the tag sequences from reads and parse reads according to tags. After parsing files, each sample can be analysed independently by the software for a variety of different applications. As samples are pooled in this type of analysis, input DNA for each sample is reduced.