Software

Computational biology toolboxes

GFtbox

<imgicon>GPT_thumbnail2.png|120px|GFtbox</imgicon>

For modelling the growth of shapes. Details: what? How? Where? Tutorials: from the beginning Examples: from publications Download from SourceForge Ready Reference Manual (PC, Mac, Linux, uses Matlab no Mathworks toolboxes needed Matlab 30 day free trial and student edition) Comment on results. R. Grant (2011) 'Taking Shape' TheScientist, 25:18

GFtbox is an implementation of the Growing Polarised Tissue Framework for understanding and modelling the relationship between gene activity and the growth of shapes such leaves, flowers and animal embryos (PLoS Computational Biology, in press). The GPT-framework was used to capture an understanding of (to model) the growing Snapdragon flower. The Snapdragon model was validated by comparing the results with new mutant flowers. The icon shows an asymmetrical outgrowth. Conceptually, it is specifed by two independent patterns under genetic control: a pattern of growth and a pattern of direction organisers. The outgrowth arises from a region of extra overall growth. Growth is aligned along axes set by the interaction of a background polariser that forms a gradient along the mesh and a source of polariser generated by an organiser that comes to be the tip of the outgrowth.

VolViewer

<imgicon>VolViewer-logo.png|120px|VolViewer</imgicon>

For viewing and measuring 3D volume images. See Details, Download (Windows, Mac, Linux)

VolViewer uses OpenGL and Qt to provide a user friendly application to interactively explore and quantify multi-dimensional biological images. It has been successfully used in our lab to explore and quantify confocal microscopy and optical projection tomography images. It is open-source and is also compatible with the Open Microscopy Environment (OME).

Open source systems to which we contribute

OMERO

<imgicon>OMERO_DIAGRAM.jpg|100px|OMERO</imgicon>

For working with the OME image database. See Details, Download (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Open Microscopy Environment Remote Objects (OMERO). for visualising, managing, and annotating scientific image data. See also our OMERO Workshop training course we ran in April 2011.

Tools and Utilities

BioformatsConverter

<imgicon>BioformatsConverterZip.png|100px|BioformatsConverter</imgicon>

For converting microscope manufacturer proprietary file formats. See Details, Download (Windows, Mac, Linux)

This tool allows for the batch conversion of microscope manufacturer proprietary file formats, to the open source OME-TIFF standard. Uses the Bioformats library.