SAMOVA

SAMOVA is a small software application developed specifically for helping you make use of an approach for identifying groups of populations that are geographically homogeneous and maximally differentiated from each other.
In addition, the program is able to detect the genetic barriers between these particular groups. You can deploy it on all Windows versions out there.

Comes in a portable edition

This is a portable program. You can drop it on pen drives or other portable devices to carry it with you all the time. Plus, you may run it without being an administrator.
Double-clicking on the executable file is sufficient for getting access to the utility’s GUI. No entries are left to your Windows registry and settings files are stored on the target computer. Uninstalling it means deleting the files that you have downloaded from the Internet.

Minimalist design

You are welcomed by a clean and simple interface that integrates all configuration parameters into a single panel. An online help manual is available in case you need extra assistance with the setup options.

Importing files and running a simulated annealing approach

SAMOVA needs two input files, namely GEO and ARP items. The GEO file must include the geographic coordinates of the sampling localities of your populations, while the second one needs to be an Arlequin input file containing the genetic data sampled in your populations.
When it comes to defining the genetic structure of populations, you need to provide information about the generic name of input files, set the number of groups, specify the number of initial conditions, as well as configure the molecular distance.
The application creates a set of output files at the end of the process, namely a plain text file with the genetic structure, fixation indices, and their significance level, log item with all the actions accomplished by the tool in order to detect errors, Arlequin project file with the genetic structure, EPS item with map of the sampling points and the barriers between the groups of populations, as well as Arlequin log file with errors and warnings.
Tests have pointed out that SAMOVA carries out a task quickly and without errors. It eats up from a low up to a moderate amount of CPU and memory resources.

Final remarks

To sum things up, SAMOVA comes packed with several handy features for helping you apply a simulated annealing procedure, and is suitable especially professional users.