JP2002032185A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] When inputting a character string using characters A, G, T, and C representing a DNA sequence, it is easy to input each character and
An input device capable of performing without error is obtained. SOLUTION: An input device 1 according to the present invention utilizes a controller used for a game machine. The input device 1
Left-handed joystick 14 and start button 1
The function of moving the cursor and the function of starting the cursor 2 as the interface of the game machine are used as they are, and the input button 11 of four buttons used as the function button for the right hand operation is used as the DNA button most frequently used in bio-information processing.
And four letters of adenine A, guanine G, cytosine C, and thymine T used for the sequence analysis are assigned.
In addition, four key positions of the cross key 13 include forward deletion,
It has functions such as backward deletion and determination. When assigning characters to the four buttons, buttons that are easy to press with the right thumb are arranged in order from the character with the highest appearance rate in consideration of the ease of pressing the four buttons and the appearance frequency of the four characters.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device suitable for use in inputting information for genome analysis in a bio-information processing device, and more particularly to a DNA in bio-informatics which is an information processing technology for analyzing a DNA sequence. The present invention relates to an input device suitable for inputting an array and a recording medium on which a program for suitably operating the input device for inputting bioinformation is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As of March 2000, processing of bioinformatics based on genome information is performed by using the Internet, and obtaining the information and processing the results using a workstation or PC. ing. On the other hand, DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
The sequence of the double helix structure of d) is adenine (Adenin: A),
Guanine (Guanine: G), cytosine (Cytosine: C), and thymine (Thymine: T) can be considered to be composed of four chemical substances, adenine (Adenin: A) and thymine (Thymine: T) Connected by two hydrogen bonds,
It is known that guanine (Guanine: G) and cytosine (Cytosine: C) are linked by three hydrogen bonds.
Further, phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), and a compound containing these elements are bound to the surroundings. These facts
It is a fact that is well known to experts in molecular biology and genomics. For example, textbooks by DP Snustad and MJ Simmons, "Principles of Genetics" (second edition) (Jhon Wiley &
Sons, Inc, New York, 2000), pp. 225-231.

[0003] The sequence of the double helical structure of DNA is considered to be composed of two DNAs consisting of a sequence from the 5 'end to the 3' end and a sequence from the 3 'end to the 5' end. be able to. Therefore, DNA sequence analysis, for example,
From the 5 'end to the 3' end, four characters of adenine (Adenin: A), guanine (Guanine: G), cytosine (Cytosine: C), and thymine (Thymine: T) can be determined, and the results are accumulated. It is a common rule worldwide that a database (DB) to be stored is stored based on a text format consisting of four characters of AGTC.

[0004] Bioinformatics, which is an information processing technology for analyzing DNA sequences, is based on the Internet as an information processing base, and connects a group of databases located in various places via the Internet. , Personal computer (P
C), a supercomputer or the like is often used. For this reason, human resources who perform information processing for analyzing DNA sequences must be familiar with these information processing devices, and it is not necessarily a situation where anyone can use them, and it is difficult to secure human resources. It is the current situation.

The information processing equipment used in the measuring device for reading a DNA sequence is a workstation, a personal computer (PC), or the like. It is something that must be typed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement of a keyboard such as JIS usually provided in a workstation or a personal computer (PC). As can be seen from this diagram, each of A, G, T and C is shown. The character keys are separately arranged at positions operated by the left hand.

[0007]

As described above, a keyboard usually provided in a currently used workstation or personal computer (PC) is
Since the letter keys A, G, T, and C are arranged separately at positions operated by the left hand, when used for inputting a DNA sequence, there are usually many right-handed people. Regardless, A, G, T separated by left hand
And C keys must be operated, and the operability is poor.
This causes a problem that data input efficiency is reduced.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the above-mentioned currently used workstation and personal computer (P).
C) DN using a keyboard normally provided in
An object of the present invention is to provide an input device that solves the problem of inputting the A array and that can easily and correctly input each of the characters A, G, T, and C.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, some keys of a controller used as an interface of a game machine are A, G,
It is used for inputting each of the characters T and C, and a program for achieving the above object is recorded on a recording medium. Further, the present invention relates to a part of a numeric keypad of a mobile phone or a JIS generally used.
Characters A, G, T, and C are assigned to some keys of a numeric keypad provided on a keyboard to provide an input device for bioinformatics.

[0010] That is, as an input device of an electronic device that can be easily handled by anyone, a keyboard as an interface to a game device that has been familiar since childhood is known. The keyboard of such a game device has a key meaning and a key arrangement provided on the keyboard, which is used by a bioinformatics person in charge of information processing technology for analyzing a DNA sequence. No consideration was given. Therefore, the present invention devises the meaning of keys provided on the keyboard of the above-described game device, the arrangement of the keys, the use form thereof, and the like, so that the person in charge of bioinformatics can efficiently use the keys. It can be used for

[0011] Specifically, the object is to provide an input device of an information device for genomic analysis in bio-information processing, wherein adenine (Adenin: A), guanine (Guanine: G), and cytosine (Cytosine) are arranged in DNA. : C), thymine (Th
Focusing on the fact that the four chemical substances of ymine: T) show a tendency in the frequency of appearance for each species based on the way they exist, and based on the frequency of appearance, use the right hand in descending order of frequency of appearance. This is achieved by arranging four buttons corresponding to the four letters of AGTC at positions that are easy to press.

[0012] Then, as an input device, an operation key of a controller, which is an interface of a game device that can be easily handled by anyone, is used.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of an input device and an input method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining the configuration and operation state of an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing adenine A, guanine G, and cytosine C in DNA sequences of various organisms. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the appearance frequency of thymine T. 1 and 2, 1 is an input device, 2 is P
C body, 3 a display device, 4 an external storage device, 1
1 is a character input button, 12 is a start button, 13 is a cross key, and 14 is a joystick.

An input device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 utilizes a controller used for a typical game machine, and includes a PC main body 2, a display device 3, and an external device. PC constituted by the storage device 4
Is used by being connected to a processing device such as When used as an embodiment of the present invention, although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, commonly used input devices such as a JIS keyboard and a mouse are also connected to perform processing other than the input of a DNA sequence. Used for The input device 1 includes a character input button 11, a start button 12, a cross key 13, and a joystick 14.

When this input device 1 is used as a controller of a game machine, it is generally used by holding with both hands, and buttons, keys, and the like provided on the input device 1 are usually operated by left and right thumbs. The cross key 13 and the joystick 14 provided on the left hand side are used for moving a cursor on the screen, selecting icons, etc., depending on the type of game, and four buttons provided on the right hand side. Input button 11 is selected, released, determined, and returned
Or it is used as a function button such as stop.
In addition, the start button 12 provided at the lower center is
Used to indicate the start of the game.

The input device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a joystick 14 operated by a left hand and a start button 12.
Using the functions of moving the cursor and the function of starting the cursor as the interface of the game machine, the input button 11 of four buttons used as the right-hand operation function button is used for inputting the DNA, which is most frequently used in bio-information processing. Four letters of adenine A, guanine G, cytosine C, and thymine T used for sequence analysis are assigned in correspondence. The four key positions of the cross key 13 have functions such as forward deletion, backward deletion, and determination. The four buttons corresponding to the four characters of adenine A, guanine G, cytosine C, and thymine T assigned to the input buttons 11 described above are considered to be more right-handed by all human beings. I will operate it. As shown in FIG. 1, the four buttons are arranged at the vertices of the upper, lower, left and right crosses in front of the human eyes. In this arrangement, when operating the four buttons with the thumb of the right hand, the button that is most ergonomically pressed is the left, the next is the bottom, the next is the top, and finally the right button.

On the other hand, the appearance frequencies of the four letters A, G, C and T appearing in the DNA sequence are as shown in FIG.
I. Virus, II. Bacteria, III. Fungi, IV. Although it varies depending on species such as highly eukaryotic organisms, T is 30.3% and A is 3
0.2%, G is 19.9%, and C is 19.6%. The example shown in FIG. 3 is a textbook by DPSnustad and MJ Simmons, "Pri
nciples of Genetics ”(2nd edition) (Jhon Wiley & Sons, In
c, New York 2000), pp. 228, TABLE10.2.

Taking into account the ease of pressing the four buttons and the frequency of appearance of the four characters, the buttons with the right thumb that are easy to press are arranged in order from the character having the highest appearance rate.
30.3% left, A 30.2% lower, G 19.9% upper and C
At 19.6%, the right button is placed.

The examples shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
In this figure, the buttons are arranged in accordance with the frequency of occurrence of AGTC in the DNA as viewed from the entire sequence, and the button A to which the letter A of the start button 12 and the input button 11 is assigned is operated. Species other than "human" have a similar tendency of the appearance frequency of AGTC.
The arrangement of the characters as described above on the four buttons to 1 is
Very good usability can be secured.

The assignment of characters to the four buttons of the input buttons 11 is not limited to the above, but may be another arrangement. For example, as can be seen from FIG. 3, the herpes virus DNA has a completely different frequency of occurrence of AGTC, and G is 37.7.
%, C is 35.5%, A is 13.8%, and T is 12.8%,
The arrangement of characters on the four buttons of the input button 11 for herpes virus specialization may be such that G is left, C is down, A is up, and T is right. However, from the viewpoint that the arrangement of keys such as buttons should be all common, it should be based on the result of the most frequently used "human" DNA analysis. As described above, the character arrangement can be set to an arrangement of characters desired by an individual, or when a species of a DNA sequence to be input is designated, the arrangement of characters is set so as to be most easily used. Input device 1 for function to adjust by software
It can be built into the interface.

In the future, 90 human DNA sequences will be analyzed.
% Or more, and the analysis of DNA of individuals becomes more active. In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the information processing device used in the measurement device for reading a DNA sequence must input characters of A, G, T, and C with a conventional ordinary keyboard. Despite the fact that there are many dominant people, A, G, T,
The inconvenience of having to hit the C key can be eliminated, and the letters A, G, T, and C can be easily and efficiently input with the right thumb.

A game machine-based information processing apparatus costs about one million yen, and two thirds of the entire population is potentially available. Thus, the embodiments of the present invention described above can make bioinformatics accessible to the general public from some special human tools,
It is very useful industrially because it can expand the market. In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, since the key arrangement is appropriate, the work efficiency per person is reduced by 50%.
The input work efficiency of the bio-information processing device can be improved.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 41 denotes a display unit, 42 denotes a function key group, and 43 denotes a numeric keypad. The second embodiment of the present invention is an example in which a part of a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number of a mobile phone is used for inputting A, G, T, and C characters.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a portable telephone is usually provided with a display section 41, a function key group 42, and a numeric keypad 43 for inputting a telephone number. In the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4B, the numeral 5 of the numeric keypad 43 of the mobile phone having the above-described configuration is used.
G, 8, 4, and 6 keys on the top, bottom, left and right
Characters A, T, and C are assigned, and these characters are input. The input information of each character can be input to a PC or the like at another location by using a normal communication function or an Internet connection function of the mobile phone. At this time, a memory (not shown) provided inside the mobile phone can store the information of the input characters, and the display unit 41 displays the internal information until the input information is transferred. The input information stored in the memory of the user can be displayed, and the operator who performs the input can confirm the input information.

The above-described assignment of characters to the numeric keypad is as follows.
It suffices to incorporate a simple function into the interface of a mobile phone as if it were performed by software. Based on the appearance frequency of each of the four chemical substances, adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine, in the DNA base sequence, input to the information processing device This can be realized by a program assigned to a plurality of input buttons of the device. In addition, the arrangement of the characters can be set so that the arrangement of the characters can be set by the individual.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the user can hold the telephone with either the left hand or the right hand, and can operate with the thumb of the hand holding the telephone. . In this embodiment, as described above, since data can be transferred via the Internet, information indicating a DNA sequence can be transmitted to a device anywhere in the world.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the characters G, A, T, and C indicating the DNA sequence are assigned to a part of the numeric keypad of the portable telephone.
Thus, a part of the numeric keypad provided on the ordinary keyboard described as the related art can be used. Also in this case, the numeral 8, which is above, below, left and right of the numeral 5 on the numeric keypad,
Characters G, A, T, and C may be assigned to the keys 2, 4, and 6, and used to input these characters. In this case, the operation is performed by the finger of the right hand, but efficient input can be performed.

In the above-mentioned case as well, the character allocation to the numeric keypad and the character arrangement can be set to the character arrangement desired by the individual, or when the species of the DNA sequence to be input is designated, It is possible to incorporate in the interface a function of adjusting the software so that the arrangement of the characters is set to be the most convenient.

According to each embodiment of the present invention described above, the following effects can be obtained.

At present, there are several hundred people in charge of bio-information at pharmaceutical companies in Japan, using workstations or PCs that cost 200,000 yen to tens of millions of yen each.
Ten million workstations are often used for image analysis. On the other hand, the number of game machine-based information processing apparatuses is about 10,000 yen, and two-thirds of the entire world population is potentially available. Therefore, when using the controller of the game machine as in the case of the first embodiment of the present invention described above, it is possible to make the bioinformatics available to the general public from some special human tools. Yes, the market can be greatly expanded, and the industrial impact is great. In addition, when a part of the numeric keypad of a mobile phone is used, or when a part of the numeric keypad of a normal keyboard is used, anyone can easily and surely use the numeric keypad. According to the embodiment, by appropriately arranging the keys, general operability can be improved by 50% for one operation per person. As an application example to calculate the effect more specifically, "human"
The case of the sequence in the genome analysis will be described. Then, when performing the sequence, D on the genome
Determination of 4 bases of AGCT in NA
It should be performed for every 00 bases, input from both 5 'terminal and 3' terminal, and if there is a self-contained point from both directions, it will be automatically regarded as the correct answer, and the sequence software will automatically It shall be registered.

The DNA of the “human” genome is 55 × 10
It is said that there are 6 to 250 × 10 6 bases. When these are read twice, a site of a reading error that cannot be automatically processed occurs once every 100 bases or once every 1000 bases. At present, if a reading error occurs once every 100 bases, it is assumed that the position of the cursor is perfectly aligned with the position of the base to be corrected where the software is not valid and the reading is not possible. And manually input the base sequence selected by the sequence engineer. At this time, a base input operation is performed.

3 times for places where automatic reading was not possible
It is assumed that the measurement is repeated and the base is determined based on the result. Actual
In addition, the genomic analysis is performed from the 5 'terminal and the 3' terminal.
All results may be redone ten times and analyzed. This
250 × 10⁶ × (1/100) × 2 × 3 × 1
0 times, ie, about 15 × 10⁷ Operations are required
You. As a result, the characters that can be input in one second with the left hand
Enter the same number of characters with your right thumb in 0.5 seconds in the present invention
If possible, the efficiency of (1-0.5) seconds can be improved,
7.5x10⁷ Seconds can be saved. One year
Is about 3.1 × 10 ⁷ Seconds, the working time is 1 /
About 1.1 × 10 of 3⁷ Seconds. With this alone, about 7.5
The effect of reducing working hours for man years can be obtained.

When the base is determined every 200 to 500 bases, the information is superimposed by the information processing technique.
An operation of 0 × 10 ⁶ × (1/200) × 2 × 3 × 10 × 2 is also required. Since it is performed at both ends, two times are required. Then, it is possible to obtain the effect of shortening the working hours for a total of about 15 man-years.

There are 100 application programs, 100 human databases, and about 100 other biological species. Furthermore, the applied population is 10,000 to 10
Assuming that there are 10,000 people, it is estimated that the same amount of information input operations as in the case of each sequence will be input.
00 + 100 + 100) × 15 person-years, ie 900
The effect of shortening the working hours for man years can be obtained.

On the other hand, considering that the base at a certain position in the genome sequence, which is called a single nucleotide polymorphism, differs from person to person within the next several years, the amount of information for input will further increase. When calculating assuming perform sequencing the increase, the "human", since the number of bases increases are said to be ^five 10, 15 × 10 ⁷ ×
(10 ⁵ / 250x10 ⁶⁾ times of operation is required. Assuming that 6.1 billion humans as a whole and one out of 100 humans in testing and the like are related to the operation, the number of sequences related to the single nucleotide polymorphism is 6.1 × 10 ⁹ × (1/1).
00) x about 15 man-years, which is equivalent to about 10 ⁹ man-years of working time.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, the characters A, G, T and C representing the bases of the genomic sequence can be input easily and without errors.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration and an operation state (a start button is pressed) of an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration and an operation state (input of a character A) of the input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3. Adenine A in DNA sequences of various organisms.
It is a figure explaining appearance frequency of guanine G, cytosine C, and thymine T.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement of a keyboard such as JIS usually provided in a workstation, a personal computer (PC), or the like.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input device 2 PC main body 3 Display device 4 External storage device 11 Character input button 12 Start button 13 Cross key 14 Joystick 41 Display part 42 Function key group 43 Numeric keypad

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Kanazawa 3-15-1 Honcho, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo F-term (reference) 5B020 AA11 DD02 FF17 GG22

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An input device for an information device for genomic analysis in bio-information processing, wherein adenine (Adenin: A), guanine (Guanine: G), cytosine (Cytosine: C), and thymine (Thymine: Based on the frequency of appearance of the four chemical substances of T), the four letters corresponding to the four letters of AGTC are placed in positions that are easier to press with the right hand in the order of higher frequency of appearance.
An input device comprising two buttons. 2. The four buttons corresponding to the four letters are, for each species, an adenine sequence arranged on the DNA of the species.
(Adenin: A), guanine (Guanine: G), cytosine (Cyto
2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement is based on the frequency of appearance of four chemical substances of sine: C) and thymine (T).
Input device as described. 3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the four buttons corresponding to the four characters are arranged at positions of up, down, left, and right crosses. 4. The four buttons corresponding to the four characters are control buttons provided on a controller for a game machine, and are operated by the right thumb. 4. The input device according to 2 or 3. 5. Four buttons corresponding to the four characters are a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number of a mobile phone, or
4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a numeric keypad provided for inputting a number on a keyboard for an information processing device, and is a number key arranged above, below, right and left of the number 5. 6. A program for assigning each of four chemical substances of adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine in a DNA base sequence to a plurality of input buttons of an input device of an information processing device based on the frequency of occurrence thereof. A recording medium characterized in that: