blot@urz.unibas.ch (Michel Blot) (04/22/91)
Dear colleagues, We observe Restriction Fragment Lenght polymorphism acquired in clones of bacteria cultured in varyous conditions. We would like to calculate an indice (e.g. a distance) that would measure the heterogeneity that appears in a clone. More precisely, we observe the presence/absence of n fragments among m individu als that belong to the same clone. Some individuals are identical and most like lyrepresent the genotype of the ancestor, and some individuals have several changes. Thus we would like an indice that describes the variability, but also which takes into account the number of changes necessary between 2 individuals. We do not want to reconstruct a tree, but we need an indice that could be used to compare a clone to another. Does someone could suggest such an indice that is easily handable with large matrices (100 fragments X 500 individuals in a clone). I'll summerize if there are several answers. Thanks for your help. Michel Blot Dept. Microbiology Biocenter, University of Basel CH-4056 BASEL SWITZERLAND