QSB

The further we advance with every new discovery, new questions that are born from results push us more and more to dig deeper to find answers. This applies as a general rule, with the study of organisms still holding a great deal of mystery. Computer applications greatly come in handy fo performing such studies, with QSB being dedicated to genetics research.

Although most computers and devices heavily rely on Java to provide various features, it's not included in any operating system package, with this application also requiring it to properly function, so you need to make sure it's installed on your computer.

In terms of design, the application is a little rough around the edges, with the few features it comes with being placed all together, even if not related, and a great deal of unused space. However, it's not difficult to use, with all requirement fields being accompanied by helpful text.

The application is strictly related to analysis, with no implemented editing options whatsoever, so you need to bring your own data. You can experiment on a few sample files to get an idea of what can be accomplished. All supported data needs to be gathered from TXT files, which slightly reduces flexibility.

Amongst others, you must provide a gene expression trait file, marker genotype and LOD threshold, with a few interval specification options and frequency in step number. On the other hand, you can use a single nucleotide file for dedicated polymorphism analysis.

Values are then gathered and organized in a slightly more approachable design than a plain TXT file. Several types of QTL networks filter information, placing it in a table, with entries for network name, number of genes and edges. A Bayesian Network can be triggered where possible.

This brings up a new window with a graphical representation of the selected network, along with links and name tags for quick identification. You can move any object around, but no other tools, not even zoom options are implemented.

Moreover, you need to make sure you display is large enough, because the output window comes in a fixed size and the representation only spreads as far as the window borders. Sadly, this makes data impossible to read, let alone analyze when the number of genes and edges in the network define a complex structure.

All things considered, we can safely state that QSB is not the most advanced piece of software dedicated to genetics, leaving a lot more to be desired. Export options are missing, which is a major disappointment, and the overall design reduces practicality. However, because it can be used on the go, it might yet just come in handy for quick and simple data analysis.