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Published on: June 21, 2018
SNP_tools: A compact tool package for analysis and conversion of genotype data for MS-Excel
Bowang Chen1, Stefan Wilkening, Marion Drechsel
1Department of Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. c.bowang@dkfz.de
SNP genotyping data can now be easily analyzed and converted using a new MS-Excel add-in. This free tool, SNP_tools, simplifies genetic and epidemiological analysis for researchers.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research
- Genetics
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping is crucial in biomedical research.
- MS-Excel is commonly used for data entry but lacks specialized genetic functions.
- A need exists for a tool to facilitate SNP data analysis and format conversion within MS-Excel.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a user-friendly add-in for MS-Excel to support SNP genotyping data analysis.
- To enable basic genetic and epidemiological analyses directly within MS-Excel.
- To provide data conversion capabilities for various SNP file formats.
Main Methods:
- Developed the SNP_tools package as an add-in for MS-Excel.
- Utilized Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) for code implementation.
- Embedded the add-in within the Microsoft Office package for accessibility.
Main Results:
- The SNP_tools add-in provides an accessible interface for users with basic computer skills.
- The tool facilitates basic statistical analysis for SNP data.
- It supports file format conversions essential for genetic research.
Conclusions:
- The SNP_tools implementation for MS-Excel (2000-2007) supports multiple file formats and conversions.
- This free software is compatible with Windows operating systems (2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7 beta).
- The add-in offers a practical solution for researchers needing integrated genetic analysis and data management in MS-Excel.
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