Analysis of molecular variance
Encyclopedia
Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), is a statistical model
for the molecular variation in a single species
, typically biological
. The name and model are inspired by ANOVA. The method was developed by Laurent Excoffier, Peter Smouse and Joseph Quattro at Rutgers University
in 1992.
Since developing AMOVA, Excoffier has written a program
for running such analyses. This program, which runs on Windows
is called Arlequin
, and is freely available on Excoffier's website. There is also an implementation by Sandrine Pavoine in R language in the ade4 package available on CRAN (Comprehensive R Archive Network). Another implementation is in Info-Gen, which also runs on Windows
. Student version if free and is fully functional. Native language of the application is Spanish but an English version is also available.
Statistical model
A statistical model is a formalization of relationships between variables in the form of mathematical equations. A statistical model describes how one or more random variables are related to one or more random variables. The model is statistical as the variables are not deterministically but...
for the molecular variation in a single species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, typically biological
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
. The name and model are inspired by ANOVA. The method was developed by Laurent Excoffier, Peter Smouse and Joseph Quattro at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
in 1992.
Since developing AMOVA, Excoffier has written a program
Computer program
A computer program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute...
for running such analyses. This program, which runs on Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
is called Arlequin
Arlequin
Arlequin is a free population genetics software. It performs several types of tests and calculations, including Fst, computing genetic distance, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, linkage disequilibrium, mismatch distribution, and pairwise difference tests....
, and is freely available on Excoffier's website. There is also an implementation by Sandrine Pavoine in R language in the ade4 package available on CRAN (Comprehensive R Archive Network). Another implementation is in Info-Gen, which also runs on Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. Student version if free and is fully functional. Native language of the application is Spanish but an English version is also available.