Computing Tool and a Relational Database for a Medicago Truncatula Mutagenesis Project

Abstract

This thesis describes the design and implementation of a computing tool and a relational database for a Medicago truncatula mutagenesis project. To meet the needs of computer science embodied in the biological project, various computer technologies such as VB, VB.NET programming, relational database, SQL and Microsoft Access were used. Findings and Conclusions: The computing tool, M. truncatula Computing Tool, has been developed to generate error-free tissue sample lists for 3-dimentional tissue pooling prior to DNA isolation. It also provides lookup functions that allow the scientists to localize the grid address of DNA sample according to tissue sample number, and to identify the DNA sample number according to biological screening results. The relational database, M. truncatula Mutant Management System, described in the thesis, provides a laboratory database to manage all resources and information generated within the project. It assists in the management of the M. truncatula mutant populations and their progenies, and to record, then store and exploit all data generated within the project. The statistics function of the database allows the users to monitor the day-by-day progress of the project. The database also allows the scientist to analyze mutant phenotypes, which facilitates the selection of individual mutant for further biological analysis.