Method for the Search for the Size Standard Peaks in Fragment Analysis of DNA

Abstract

Fragment analysis of DNA by the capillary gel-electrophoresis method is an effective tool for studying the DNA structure, which has a large number of applications (in particular, for genetic expertise of breeds and breed samples of a number of important crops). Fragment analysis of DNA is carried out in several stages. The stage of processing of the results of investigations includes the procedure of detection of peaks for standard DNA fragments. We list the features of the spectrum of the DNA fragment distribution, which necessitate the development of a new method for detecting peaks of a standard. We propose a method for their search based on comparison of the aggregate of standard lengths of DNA fragments and spectral peaks and describe the algorithm for implementing this method. We also consider in detail the critical stage of the algorithm, i.e., the choice of the threshold for the procedure of detection of peaks in the spectrum. The advantages and disadvantages of the method are enumerated and the results of testing are considered.