CartoonPlus: A new scaling algorithm for genomics data

Abstract

We focus on visualisation techniques used in genome browsers and report on a new technique, CartoonPlus, which improves the visual representation of data. We describe our use of smooth zooming and panning, and a new scaling algorithm and focus on options. CartoonPlus allows the users to see data not in original size but scaled, depending on the data type which is interactively chosen by the users. In VisGenome we have chosen genes as the basis for scaling. All genes have the same size and all other data is scaled in relationship to genes. Additionally, objects which are smaller than genes, such as micro array probes or markers, are scaled differently to reflect their partitioning into two categories: objects in a gene region and objects positioned between genes. This results in a significant legibility improvement and should enhance the understanding of genome maps. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.