Calculation of restriction fragment lengths by image processing

The image processing system, LabEye Profile, calculates the size of DNA restriction fragments according to the formula MD = f(x); x = 1/log bp. The migration distances (MD) of known fragment sizes are interpolated by the use of cubic splines. Cubic splines are also used to correct for gel distortions. A comparison to the Biotrac system, which uses the reciprocal method, gives almost identical standard deviations for calculated sizes compared to known sizes, 0.88% for LabEye Profile and 0.89% for Biotrac. The measurement error for LabEye Profile is 0.24% of the size of the fragments.