The application of numerical estimates of base calling accuracy to DNA sequencing projects

During DNA sequencing projects one of the most labour intensive and highly skilled tasks is to view the original trace descriptions of gels and to adjudicate between conflicting readings. Given the current methods of calculating a consensus, the majority of the time employed in viewing traces and editing readings is actually devoted to making the poorer data fit the good data. We propose new consensus calculation algorithms that employ numerical estimates of base calling accuracy and which when used in conjunction with an automatic detector of contradictory data should greatly reduce the time spent checking and editing readings and hence improve DNA sequencing productivity.