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SIGMAGEL™ Available from SPSS Software

SigmaGel: Accurate, Inexpensive Gel Analysis Software for your PC

SigmaGel software is your alternative to expensive turnkey electrophoretic gel analysis systems. SigmaGel gives you the freedom to analyze your gels the way you want -- in your lab, your office or even at home. All for far less than other gel analysis systems!

SigmaGel's icon-based, easy to use Windows interface makes jumping right into your analysis effortless. But SigmaGel isn't just easy to use -- it also offers many measurement options previously available only in higher priced gel analysis systems. And unlike most gel analysis systems, you can use SigmaGel right at your desk as often as you'd like without reserving time or waiting in line for other specialty equipment.

Step 1...Scan in or Load Your Image

SigmaGel supports TWAIN-compatible scanners. If you have a TWAIN-compatible device installed, the appropriate scanner control dialog will appear within SigmaGel so you can scan your gels directly into SigmaGel. You can also load previously digitized images. SigmaGel supports a large variety of image formats (TIFF, JPEG, PCX, EPS, Bitmaps).  

Step 2...Calibrate Your Image

Before you can make any measurements on your gel, you must calibrate the image. Load previously saved or set new spatial, intensity, or brightness, values for an image. You can calibrate using raw pixel units, inverse pixel units, a log scale, an inverse log scale, a linear scale, or a custom scale. Use Spatial Calibrations to change distance scales and to translate current axis values to new axis values. The spatial calibrations dialog can also be used to reset all spatial calibrations to raw pixel values.

Step 3...Use Any of SigmaGel's Three Measurement Modes

Lane Measurements:
Lay down a straight or curved lane, find your peaks and integrate them. Use SigmaGel's lane template feature to find and integrate peaks in additional lanes -- with a single mouse click!

Spot Measurements:
Select square, circular or image defined (floodfilled) areas for integration. Use flood fill to measure large and complicated shapes with a single mouse click by setting a gray scale threshold that automatically selects and integrates all contiguous pixels that share the same intensity range.

Molecular Weight Measurements:
Calibrate images by setting upper and lower limit lines and selecting two or more known molecular weight locations. Once calibrated, each selected point is evaluated for its Rf (fraction of distance between the two limit lines) and the corresponding molecular weight is transferred to the built in spreadsheet.

Step 4...Complete Your Data Analysis

SigmaGel transfers all measurements to the spreadsheet window, which displays the current lane, spot or molecular weight data. Lane intensity curves and their peaks and integration areas are shown in a separate graph window, in which you can modify, integrate, add or delete peaks.

Step 5...Print or Copy and Paste Data and Images

Print spreadsheet data, graphs or images on any Windows supported output device. Save and export data as text files (.txt). Or use the Windows Clipboard to copy and paste data, images, or graphs into your favorite word processor, spreadsheet, lab notebook, or other Windows application for additional analysis or presentation.