DNA sequence chromatogram browsing using JAVA and CORBA

DNA sequence chromatograms (traces) are the primary data source for all lar ge-scale genomic and expressed sequence tags [ESTs) sequencing projects. Ac cess to the sequencing trace assists many later analyses, for example conti g assembly and polymorphism detection, but obtaining and using traces is pr oblematic. Traces are not collected and published centrally, they are much larger than the base calls derived from them, and viewing them requires the interactivity of a local graphical client with local data. To provide effi cient global access to DNA traces, we developed a client/server system base d on flexible lava components integrated into other applications including an applet for use in a WWW browser and a stand-alone trace viewer. Client/s erver interaction is facilitated by CORBA middleware which provides a well- defined interface, a naming service, and location independence.