A parallel/distributed architecture for hierarchically heterogeneous web-based cooperative applications

A new class of applications is described which requires cooperation among d iverse users in multiple data and problem instance domains. The hierarchy o f parallelism includes heterogeneity within a single instance of the proble m, homogeneity among subsets of users within a problem domain, and multiple problem domains which share computational resources. The particular proble m of genetic linkage analysis is used to illustrate and implement the archi tecture. GenoMap, the first implementation of this system is being deployed for several groups of cooperating users at multiple institutions in a stud y to isolate the,genomic locus of the controlling gene(s) in several diseas es including autism. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.