Meander

Meander visualizes structural variations across multiple genomes by integrating read-depth and paired-end information for comparative genomics analyses.

Key Features:

• Space-filling Hilbert curve visualization: Uses Hilbert curves to provide a genome-wide, non-gene-centric representation of structural variations.
• Read-depth and paired-end integration: Combines read-depth and paired-end information for detection and representation of structural variants (SVs).
• Multi-individual comparison: Supports direct comparison of up to four individuals against a common reference genome to identify shared and unique SVs.
• Resolution-scalable analysis: Enables examination of genomic data at varying levels of resolution to inspect SVs at different scales.
• Implementation details: Implemented using Java 1.6 and Processing.org.

Scientific Applications:

• Genomic research: Provides a genome-wide perspective to study the distribution and patterns of structural variations beyond individual genes.
• Comparative genomics: Facilitates direct multi-individual comparisons for studies of genetic diversity, evolution, and population structure.
• Disease studies: Aids identification of genomic regions with structural variation that may be associated with disease phenotypes across individuals.

Methodology:

Integrates read-depth and paired-end information to detect structural variations and displays them using space-filling Hilbert curves for genome-wide visualization.