FNBtools

FNBtools is a tool to identify causal deletions in mutant populations derived from deletion mutagenesis techniques such as fast neutron bombardment (FNB). Traditionally, locating causal deletions in deletion mutants relied on labor-intensive map-based cloning. Although comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) methods have sped up this process, they fail to detect small deletions accurately and sensitively. As next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have become more accessible, there's been a significant shift towards utilizing NGS-based tools for deletion detection. However, the available tools often lack efficiency in identifying small deletions, and there is a scarcity of population-scale deletion callers capable of discerning both small and large deletions.

Addressing these gaps, FNBtools is specifically developed to operate at a population scale, leveraging NGS data to pinpoint homozygous causal deletions with high accuracy across varying levels of coverage. It stands out for its proficiency in detecting deletions of all sizes and distinguishing unique deletions within a mutant pool by filtering out those present in wild-type or control pools. Moreover, FNBtools incorporates visualization capabilities, employing Circos to display identified deletions genome-wide, providing a comprehensive overview of the deletion landscape.