DNA Sequencing - Accessing & Viewing Data

Accessing Data

FTP

All electropherogram and text files are placed on our FTP server for you to access and download using appropriate FTP client software or a standard web browser. Data files are retained on the FTP server for a period of 2 weeks. All data is backed up to a permanent archive. Information on how to access our FTP site and the recommended software is contained in the document FTP Information for Micromon Users.

E-mail

Due to the size and complexity of the .AB1 file type, and the easy access to our FTP server, our policy is that electropherogram files will not be available by e-mail, however we are quite happy to post text files if required.

Compact Disk

Files can also be despatched on CD if requested.

Software for Viewing and Printing Electropherograms

Other than the proprietary Applied Biosystems 3730 software used for comprehensive analysis of raw sequence data, there are a number of freeware Electropherogram Viewing Programs available that will perform some, or all of the basic functions of viewing, editing and printing the trace files. Additionally, there are some freeware or inexpensive packages that also offer the extra capability of performing multiple sequence alignments, clipping, blast searches and sequence assembly.

It is critical that you view the electropherogram for the full length of the read to perform the manual editing check. The Applied Biosystems Kb basecaller will occasionally make an error where it determines that the base spacing is irregular or the resolution of the peaks is too poor to call with acceptable confidence (nearer the end of the run).  Our policy is to have the analysis software call bases at every position and then allow the customer to manually check, trim and edit the read.  If you would like us to re-configure the software to call N's where appropriate, please request this on your order form together with the Quality Value (QV) which you would like us to use for the basecall threshold.