Why
do you think your paper is highly cited?
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 |
|
“We designed GENALEX as a user-friendly
package, with an intuitive and consistent
interface that allows students to analyze a
wide range of population genetic data within
a software environment with which most of
them have some familiarity (MS Excel).” |
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Our paper describes a software package called GENALEX—Genetic
Analysis in Excel. We believe the paper is highly cited
primarily because GENALEX fills a void in the fields of
molecular ecology and population genetics, bridging the gap
between teaching and research.
Does
it describe a new discovery, methodology, or synthesis?
We designed GENALEX as a user-friendly package, with an
intuitive and consistent interface that allows students to
analyze a wide range of population genetic data within a
software environment with which most of them have some
familiarity (MS Excel). Initially developed for teaching,
GENALEX also offers a wide range of analysis options for
researchers, including more than 20 different types of
graphical outputs that summarize analytical outcomes.
Would
you summarize the significance of your paper in layman’s terms.
GENALEX is the first software in its field to be
specifically developed for both teaching and research. We
designed it to be a powerful teaching aid that augments,
rather than replaces, the teacher.
We have been overwhelmed by the response to GENALEX by
university teachers at both undergraduate and graduate
levels in Australia, North America, South America, and
Europe. The growing list of literature citations also
indicates that GENALEX has been widely welcomed by
researchers. There are more than 1,000 registered users in
over 60 countries.
How
did you become involved in this research?
As both researchers and teachers, it had become apparent
to us that exciting developments in DNA technology and
associated statistical analyses were not being matched by
adequate training in the fields of molecular ecology and
population genetics. We designed the software to help us
bridge the gap in the classroom. At the same time, the need
for developing additional tools for researchers became
apparent as we taught each new group of students.
Where
do you see your research leading in the future?
While constituting only a small component of our research
and teaching, we are continually adding new routines to the
package, and we have a new version, offering some exciting
new features, due for release in July 2007.
Dr. Rod Peakall
Associate Professor
School of Botany and Zoology
Australian National University
Canberra, Australia
Peter Smouse, Professor II
Department of Ecology, Evolution & Natural Resources
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ, USA
