Ian Carr
Senior Research Fellow
After training as a molecular biologist, and working within teams in Leeds that identified genes causing cleft palate and microcephaly, I gradually became aware of the need for “better” (meaning simpler) computer programmes to address the practical needs of the molecular biologist.
I have become proficient in the Java and VB6 programming languages, in order to create bespoke applications that automate “trivial” but time consuming data analysis tasks.
With the release of the .NET languages, I have decided to concentrate on this platform, in order to allow very rapid application development. I am a Microsoft Certificated Solutions Developer. This has allowed me to generate very quick solutions to key bottlenecks in day-to-day data analysis (e.g. both sequence and genotyping data) and clinical data collection using both standalone and web based applications.
Software for autozygosity mapping projects
I have developed two independent non-parametric approaches to interactive analysis of SNP data for autozygosity mapping: AutoSNPa and IBDfinder. These methods focus on allowing the investigator to visualize genetic data in a flexible and intuitive fashion, and when necessary without reliance on uncertain or unknown intra- and inter-family relationships.
I have also developed new programmes GeneScreen and Illuminator, for the mutation detection phase of gene discovery, both using conventional Sanger sequencing and high-throughput clonal methods. These remain under active development.
Links to all these and other packages are here and here.
Carr IM, Szymanska K, Sheridan E, Markham AF, Bonthron DT, Johnson CA (2009) Shadow autozygosity mapping by linkage exclusion (SAMPLE): a simple strategy to identify the genetic basis of lethal autosomal recessive disorders. Hum Mutat 30: 1642-9.
Carr IM, Robinson JI, Dimitriou R, Markham AF, Morgan AW, Bonthron DT (2009) Inferring relative proportions of DNA variants from sequencing electropherograms. Bioinformatics 25: 3244-50.
Carr IM, Sheridan E, Hayward BE, Markham AF, Bonthron DT (2009) IBDfinder and SNPsetter: tools for pedigree-independent identification of autozygous regions in individuals with recessive inherited disease. Hum Mutat 30: 960-7.
Carr IM, Valleley EMA, Cordery SF, Markham AF, Bonthron DT (2007) Sequence analysis and editing for bisulphite genomic sequencing projects. Nucleic Acids Res 35: e79.
Carr IM, Flintoff KJ, Taylor GR, Markham AF, Bonthron DT (2006) Interactive visual analysis of SNP data for rapid autozygosity mapping in consanguineous families. Hum Mutat 27: 1041-46.
Last modified: 28 April 2010