Software for Molecular Biology

Abstract

The range of computer applications designed to support molecular sequencing and related laboratory activities has grown considerably in the past five years. This Directory is designed to bring short descriptions of all published and commercially available programs together in a consistent format in order to help a scientist quickly select appropriate software for their laboratory, without having to delve into the mass of specialist literature. Having selected candidate software, the details may be confirmed by reference to the bibliography provided for each directory entry. The Directory has been compiled from reports in scientific journals since 1981, from demonstration programs and manuals provided by commercial software distributors and on occasion by personal communication with software authors. It is organised so that each entry represents, where possible, software published from one author, company or research group. Occasionally, when programs are too numerous or diverse to accommodate in this structure (e.g. Page 257), several entries are made for one source: each describing programs with related purposes. More than one entry per source is also made when significant differences in either the implementation, or purpose of programs occurs between reports.