An image-processing approach to dotplots: an X-Window-based program for interactive analysis of dotplots derived from sequence and structural data.

We present an approach to the study of the relationships between biological sequences and structures applying image analysis methods to dotplots. We introduce a set of analytical tools based on different types of digital image-processing filters that are new within the context of dotplots. We have reformulated some of the usual approaches in dotplot analysis as mathematical operations on images within the framework of mathematical morphology. An X-Window-based implementation of this new approach has been developed and is available by anonymous FTP.