Parallel algorithms for querying data on two-dimensional electrophoresis gels

This paper describes some parallel processing algorithms for the analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis images. One of the largest processor arrays in the world, CLIP4, at University College London, was used in the research. The paper concentrates on algorithms using CLIP4 for querying the data produced on the gel images. It is shown that many typical queries that researchers request can be answered without removing the data from the processor array, eliminating slow transfer times due to the input/output bottleneck problem. The production of these data by CLIP4 has already been described in two previous papers in this journal. Improvements to the system for the future are also presented.