A COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR THE MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY

THE DEVELOPMENT OF RAPID SIMPLE METHODS FOR SEQUENCING DNA HAS LED TO A REQUIREMENT FOR THE DAY TO DAY USE OF COMPUTERSIN THE MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY. THE LOW COST OF MICROCOMPUTERS HAS GENERATED CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN THESE SMALL MACHINES AS THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT. THE PURPOSE OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY PROPOSED HERE IS TO DEFINE THE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS FORA MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE AS COMPLETE AS POSSIBLEAND WHICH WOULD BALANCE COST WITH EFFECTIVENESS. TO THIS END THE FOLLOWING AIMS ARE PROPOSED: (1) TO IMPROVE THE SOFTWARE FOR THE LABORATORY ANALYSIS SYSTEM BY ADDING PROGRAMS FOR DNA SEQUENCE ANALYSIS AND OTHER LABORATORY FUNCTIONS, (2) TO CONVERT THE SOFTWARE TO NEW GENERATION HARDWARE CONFIGURATIONS THAT ALLOW EXPANDED CAPABILITY AND GREATER CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE, (3) TO EXPLORE THROUGH A MARKETING SURVEY THE POTENTIAL MARKET FOR THIS HARDWARE- SOFTWARE PACKAGE, (4) TO DEVELOP A METHOD FOR COMPUTER GENERATION OF A PHYSICAL THREE DIMENSIONAL CYLINDRICAL MODEL OF A DNA MOLECULE.