AMER.ZOOL., 13:115-135 (1973).
Information Control in the Amphibian Facility: The Use of /?. pipiens
Disruptive Patterning for Individual Identification
and Genetic Studies
GEORGE W.
NACE, CHRISTINA M. RICHARDS, AND GRETCHEN M.
HAZEN
Department of Zoology, Center for Human Growth and Development,
The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
SYNOPSIS. A computer based information control system known as Taxir, based on
graph, set and information theories and utilizing a language resembling English with
the syntax of boolean algebra for its retrieval portion, was adopted to control information in the Amphibian Facility. This includes routine data collections on demography, genetics and pathology as well as special collections on morphometrics, female
reproduction and other specialized data. Data structuring, retrieval and analysis by
this generalized information control system interacting with the Michigan Terminal
System (MTS) and the Michigan Interactive Data Analysis System (MIDAS) on an
IBM 360/67 computer is demonstrated by use of the demographic data bank.
As further illustration, the disruptive patterning and toe clipping systems developed
to identify individual R. pipiens are described and their use shown. Further demonstration of the interaction between Taxir and MIDAS serves to reveal the potential
significance of analyses of disruptive patterning in the study of frog genetics.
The description and demonstration of Taxir is sufficiently detailed for biologists
unfamiliar with computer technology to make preliminary evaluation of its applicability to and ease of operation in their information control systems.
INTRODUCTION
The objectives of the Amphibian Facility have been described (Nace, 1968; Nace,
1970; Gibbs et al., 1971). Briefly, they include the conduct of basic and applied
studies needed to standardize the care and
husbandry of amphibians to establish them
as reliable laboratory bred animals for
biomedical research. This includes the generation of baseline data for the evaluation
of amphibian growth and development and
the development of genetically defined lines
of animals suitable for a variety of research
objectives (Nace and Richards, 1969;
Richards et al., 1969; Asher, 1970; Joiner
and Abrams, 1970; Nace et al., 1970; Asher
and Nace, 1971; Gill, 1971; Smith-Gill et
al., 1972; Van der Steen et al., 1972).
Since the establishment of the Amphibian Facility in 1963, demographic,
genetic, and pathology records have accumulated on approximately 30,000 individuals of several amphibian species inCon tribution No. 43 from the Amphibian Facility. These investigations were supported by grants
from the National Science Foundation, NSF GB
8187; the National Institutes of Health, NIH 1
PO6 RR00572; and the Crass Foundation.
eluding Rana pipiens, the species cultured
in largest number and including a standing population of approximately 5,000 living adults. The control of information in
the Amphibian Facility rapidly passed the
capacity of simple notebook notation. Too
many items of information and too many
people were involved. Mechanical or electronic techniques were needed to handle
the information in order to permit the attainment of objectives. Initially a system
called Termatrex was adopted. This system and the forms associated with the recording of the data were described in Nace
(1970). Though adequate for information
input, the Termatrex system was recognized as deficient for information retrieval
from data collections numbering greater
than 10,000 items. Consequently, when the
data base in the Amphibian Facility exceeded this number, it became increasingly
necessary to identify and install a computer
based information retrieval and manipulation system.
This paper describes and demonstrates
the use of the computer based system called
Taxir which was adopted. This system can
be used not only by the staff of the Amphibian Facility, but by any investigator
115
116
NACE, RICHARDS, AND HAZEN
with teletype communication equipment
who wishes to and gains permission for
this use, regardless of distance. Such a user
may either have access to our information
or add to that store or use the system to
store and manipulate his own data. Indeed,
the ability of this system to handle any
structured body of information is such as
to render it immediately useful to any scientist. In addition to describing the system,
this paper illustrates its application for
the general management of the Amphibian
Facility by demonstrating its use in the
identification of individual R. pipiens and
in the analysis of pattern characteristics
vised for such identification. It further demonstrates the heuristic value of random access to stores of recorded data.
THE TAXIR SYSTEM
General Description
The Taxir system can best be described
by quoting from the introduction to The
Taxir Primer (Brill, 1971):
"The computer based system under consideration here owes its origin to the longstanding interest of plant taxonomist David J. Rogers in computer aided classification and museum curation. During the
early 1960's Dr. Rogers assembled a research team to study the classification process. Several computer programs were developed over the period 1963 to 1966, most
notably the similarity-clustering program
(based on graph theory and set theory) and
the character analysis program (based on
information theory and set theory), both
largely contributions of mathematician
George Estabrook. Although the original
impetus was to classify biological organisms, Estabrook's approach was to regard
classification as a general procedure for
grouping similar objects into clusters,
whatever these objects may be and whatever characteristics of the objects may be
chosen as the basis for similarity and difference. Both of these programs are still
much used by taxonomists, but they are
increasingly being used by other workers
outside systematic biology, such as geolo-
gists, psychologists, ecologists, etc.
"In 1967 Dr. Rogers and his team were
awarded a grant from the National Science
Foundation to develop a computerized information storage and retrieval system for
systematic biology, principally to facilitate
the curation of botanical and zoological
collections. Again, the team took a generalized approach and, extending the concepts developed during the earlier work in
classification, Brill and Estabrook designed
and programmed (for the CDC 6400) the
Taxir system (Estabrook and Brill, 1969;
Rogers and Estabrook, 1970). Taxir stands
for Taxonomic information .Retrieval, a
name which reflects the original intentions
of the project. These intentions were fully
realized and a number of Taxir museum
applications came into existence. But a
great deal more was achieved in the process and thanks to Taxir's generality the
system is now available to all who wish to
retrieve at will select portions from a large
mass of data, whatever the nature of that
data. This includes not only biologists but
other scientists, businessmen, and administrators who recognize the common structure underlying their information problems."
More specifically: "Taxir is an information storage and retrieval system designed
for general use on electronic computing
machines. The semantic content of the information fed to it has no bearing on its
operation. If the information can be structured in the manner described in [the
primer (Brill, 1971) and in the following
examples], then the Taxir system is capable of handling it, and most of the information that is gathered in all fields of
human endeavor can be so structured.
"The system is based on some simple
notions in set theory which permit the data
to be stored in a highly compressed form
and rapidly retrieved by calculation rather
than by the traditional comparison search
(Estabrook and Brill, 1969). This technique results in significant savings in both
machine storage space and machine execution time.
"The Taxir user addresses the system in
INFORMATION CONTROL
a high level language, somewhat resembling
English, which permits him complete control over building, updating, and querying
data banks. The querying section of the
language, which enables the user to retrieve desired portions of his data, is the
language of boolean algebra, adapted so
that terms of the user's own choosing may
serve as operands in boolean expressions of
any degree of complexity.
"The responses to queries are ordered
alphabetically, numerically or on any other
ordering criterion defined by the user, and
arranged in a convenient hierarchical
structure of the user's choosing."
Implementation at the University of
Michigan
The Taxir System was implemented in
the Amphibian Facility on the IBM 360/
67 of the University of Michigan in the
fall of 1971. It interfaces with the timesharing MTS (Michigan Terminal System) control system used at that institution, as well as with MIDAS (Michigan
Interactive Data Analysis .System), the
package of statistical software available to
users of the MTS system.
In addition to its application in the Amphibian Facility, Taxir is also used in the
research of graduate students and staff in
the Departments of Botany and Zoology,
and in the School of Medicine. Because of
this expanded use, a revised Taxir primer
describing the characteristics and applications of the University of Michigan modifications of Taxir is being prepared by Mr.
Brill.
Data Structuring in the Amphibian
Facility
The data maintained routinely on animals in the Amphibian Facility are divided into sets of information defined as data
banks. These cover demography, genetics,
and pathology. The introduction of the
demographic information has been given
first priority, although specialized data
banks on morphometrics and female repro-
117
duction are also being constructed.
Figure 1 is a reproduction of the Individual Frog Record form. Examination of
this information and the earlier experience with Termatrex, led to the development of the demographic data bank defined by Descriptor List (I) (Fig. 2). Following the simple rules defined for the
Taxir system, this information is introduced to the computer through punch
cards, tape or teletype terminal. The information can then be retrieved and delivered in the form of printed books which
allow editing in comparison with the original raw data. Where errors are found, corrections can be made to the data stored
in the computer. Even with the employment of personnel not trained in computer
use, we find an initial error level no higher than 1% which is reasonable and can
be managed. It follows that as information
on living animals changes, the data banks
can be up-dated following the same procedures used for corrections.
An important feature of this information control system is that inconsistencies
in data resulting from erroneous original
recording of the information become clearly evident when the data banks are queried. This results in greatly improved regularity and accuracy of information collection by Amphibian Facility personnel and,
further, allows confirmation of apparently
inconsistent data while the animals are
still available. Thus, this system not only
results in the facilitation of information
retrieval and analysis, but also in the improvement of information collection.
To illustrate the diversity of information which may be manipulated, Figures
3 and 4 show Descriptor Lists (II) and
(III) for morphometrics and female reproduction.
Examination of the descriptors (sets of
mutually exclusive categories) and descriptor states (name of a category) in Figures
2, 3, and 4 reveals the variety of data structuring which is possible. This structuring
is accomplished through the use of several
options. FROM TO is an option which
allows the manipulation of labeled or un-
118
NACE, RICHARDS, AND HAZEN
Frog #
INDIVIDUAL FROG RECORD
Cage #
Species
Identification positive
Yes
No
Sex: male, female, hermaphrodite,
uncert.
, immature,
unknown
Lucke: yes, maybe
Pattern: burnsi, kandiyohi, KB, other
(tessellated, speckle, etc.)»
wild type
Color: brown, green, albino, blue,
Amphibian Facility
color changed, melanoid, unusual
Fertilization date
Toe clip:
FL 1 2 4 7 (1000's) FR 1 2 4 7 (100's)
Mother #
HL 1 2 4 7 T (10's) HR 1 2 4 7 T (u's)
Father #
misclip
Fert. type: biparental, hybrid,
gyno irrad sperm, gyno other ' Picture: b&w, color, X-ray, therm
homozygous diploid,polyploid
Pattern:
nucleocyto, other
Backqround
Head
Metamorphosis date
Body
Other
Length (mm) at metam.
Not Amphibian Facility
Date acquired
Source
Locality
Length
(mm)
Use as parent
Date
Progeny #'s
Special character or use:
abnormal limbs, biochem mutant,
biopsy, chromosome analysis,
electrophoresis, hematocrit,
hemat-electro, hemat/electro +,
sex reversal, skin growth,
other abnormality
other
_
User:
Disposal
Date of disposal
Age at disposal (months)
Disposition: died, killed,
donated, exchanged,
sold, missing
Group(# animals with this #)
FIG. 1. The Individual Frog Record form on which
raw data on every frog in the Amphibian Facility
is recorded.
labeled numerical data. Sets of organisms
falling in any range may be retrieved by
use of this option, e.g., frogs with
LENGTH, FROM 25 TO 80 MM. ORDER permits the listing of information
sets whose composition can be anticipated
INFORMATION CONTROL
119
Descriptor List (I)
For Rana Demography
1 FROG f (FROM 1 TO 65535) ,
2 SPECIES (ORD^R, PIPIENS(l), CLAMITANS(2), CATESBEIANA(3), PALUSTRIS(4),
SYLVATICA(5), GRYLIO(6), JAPOMICA(7), NIGROMACULATA(8), TEMPORARIA(9),
SEPTENTRIONALIS(IO), ESCULENTA(11), GOLIATH(12), RIDIBUNDA(13),
TIGRINA(14), VIRGATIPES(15), OTHERl(sphenocephala)(16),
0THER2(brevipoda)(17), OTHER3(18), OTHER4(19), OTHER5(20), OTHER6(21),
OTHER7(22), OTHER8(23), OTHER9(24), OTHER10(25), OTHER11(26),
OTHER12(27), OTHER13(28), OTHER14(29), OTHER15(30), RANASP(31)),
3 IDENT POS (ORDER, YES(l), NO(2)),
4 CAGE # (FROM 1 TO 2047) ,
5 FERT/ACQ DAY (FROM 1 TO 31),
6 FERT/ACQ MONTH (ORDER, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII)
(or arabic # ) ,
7 FERT/ACQ YEAR (FROM 1965 TO 19 79),
8 FERT/ACQ (ORDER, FERT(l), ACQ(2)),
9 MOTHER # (=1),
10 FATHER # (=1),
11 FERT TYPE (ORDER, BIPARENTAL(1), HYBRID(2), HAPLOID(3), GYNO IRRAD SPERM(4),
GYNO OTHER(5), HOMOZYGOUS DIPLOID(6), POLYPLOID(7), NUCLEOCYTO(8),
OTHER(9) ) ,.
12 METAMORPHOSIS DAY (=5),
13 METAMORPHOSIS MONTH (=6),
14 METAMORPHOSIS YEAR (=7),
15 LENGTH (FROM 1 TO 127 IN MM),
16 MONTH OF LAST ATTEMPTED OVULATION (=6),
17 YEAR OF LAST ATTEMPTED OVULATION (=7),
18 SUCCESS OF OVULATION (ORDER, NONE(l), EGGS(2), PROGENY(3)),
19 SEX (ORDER, M(l), F(2), HERM(3), UNCERT(4), IMMAT(5)),
20 LUCKE (ORDER, YES(l), MAYBE(2)),
21 PATTERN (NAME, 31),
22 COLOR (NAME, 31),
23 CLIP FL (ORDER, 0,1,2,4,7,12,14,17,24,27,47,124,127,147,247),
24 CLIP FR (=23),
25 CLIP HL (ORDER, 0,1,2,4,7,9,12,14,17,19,24,27,29,47,49,79,124,127,129,
147,149,179,247,249,279,4 79,1247,1249,12 79,1479,2479) ,
26 CLIP HR (=25),
27 PICTURE (ORDER, B&W(1), COLOR(2), XRAY(3), THERM(4), B&W-COLOR(5),
B&W-XRAY(6), B&W-THERM(7), COLOR-XRAY(8), COLOR-THERM(9),
XRAY-THERM(10), B&W-COLOR-XRAY(11), B&W-COLOR-THERM(12), B&W-XRAYTHERM(13), COLOR-XRAY-THERM(14), ALL(15)),
2 8 BACKGROUND PAT (FROM 1 TO 15),
29 HEAD PAT (=28),
30 BODY PAT (=28) ,
31 OTHER PAT (=28),
32 DISPOSITION (ORDER, ALIVE(1), DIED(2), KILLED(3), DONATED(4), EXCHANGED(5),
SOLD(6), MISSING(7)),
33 MONTH OF DISPOSAL (=6),
34 YEAR OF DISPOSAL (=7),
35 GROUP (FROM 1 TO 511) ,
36 AGE AT DISPOSAL (FROM 0 TO 62 IN MOS.),
37 SOURCE (NAME, 63),
3 8 LOCALITY (NAME, 127) ,
39 SPECIAL CHARACTER (NAME, 31),
40 USER (NAME, 63),
41 CONTROL FERT (NAME, 15),
42 UPDATE SERIAL (FROM 1 TO 255)*
FIG. 2. The Descriptor List which defines the
demographic data for each frog as it is introduced
into the computer. The adherence of a set of data
to a particular frog is done through the FROG #.
at the time the bank is constructed. The
descriptor states are numbered when the
ORDER option is used and thus provides
economies in computer input. NAME per-
mits the reservation of a predetermined
number of places in the dictionary for
descriptor states which cannot be anticipated at the time the descriptors are ini-
120
NACE, RICHARDS, AND HAZEN
Descriptor List (II)
Morphometrics, Rana
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
FROG # (FROM 1 TO 65535),
SEX (ORDER, M(l), F(2), HERM(3), UNCERT(4), IMMAT(5)),
TIME (FROM 1 TO 2 4 ) ,
DAY (FROM 1 TO 367),
YEAR (FROM 1965 TO 1979),
AIR T (FROM -15.0 TO 35.0 BY 0.1 IN C ) ,
H2O T (FROM -2.0 TO 35.0 BY 0.1 IN C ) ,
SUNRISE (FROM 0.0 TO 24.0 BY 0.1 IN HR),
DAYLIGHT (FROM 0.0 TO 2 4.0 BY 0.1 IN H R ) ,
WEATHER (NAME, 31),
EXPTL GRP (NAME, 63),
SV LENGTH (FROM 0.0 TO 255.0 BY 0.1 IN MM),
TIBIA L (FROM 0.0 TO 100.0 BY 0.1 IN M M ) ,
WET WT (FROM 0.0 TO 3000.0 BY 0.1 IN G ) ,
DRY WT (FROM 0.0 TO 400.0 BY 0.1 IN G ) ,
GONAD WET (FROM 0.0 TO 25000.0 BY 0.1 IN M G ) ,
GONAD DRY (FROM 0.0 TO 13000.0 BY 0.1 IN MG),
LIVER WT
L SMPLE A (FROM 0.0 TO 1500.0 BY 0.1 IN M G ) ,
L SMPLE B (=19),
L SMPLE C ( = 19) ,
L SMPLE D (=19),
FAT BODY WT (=18),
FB SMPLE A (=19),
FB SMPLE B (=19) ,
FB SMPLE C (=19),
GASTROCN WT (=18),
GASTROCN S A (=19) ,
GASTROCN S B (=19) ,
GASTROCN S C (=19),
H-CRIT (FROM 0 TO 100),
BLD GLUCO (FROM 0 TO 500 IN M G % ) ,
LIV GLYCO (FROM 0 TO 100 IN uG/uG),
MUS GLYCO (=33),
LIV LIPID (=33),
FB LIP ( = 33) ,
BLD LIP ( = 32) ,
PYRUVATE (=32),
USER (NAME, 63)*
FIG. 3. The Descriptor List which defines the is done through the combined use of FROG #
morphometric data currently recorded on certain and the observation time, making this a frog/time
frogs. It illustrates the nature of numerical data bank. This allows manipulation of serial observawhich can be manipulated. The adherence of a set tions.
of data to a given observation on a specific frog
tially described. A final option called the
EQUIVALENCE ( = ) Feature, reduces
operating costs by structuring information
within the computer in the same manner
in which it is structured for another descriptor. Thus, the form of the information for YEAR OF DISPOSAL (descriptor 34) is identical to the form of the information for FERT/ACQ YEAR (7) and
is described by the EQUIVALENCE Feature referring to FERT/ACQ YEAR.
Because the states of a NAME descriptor are defined as the bank of information
increases, a list of states of NAME descriptors gradually accumulates. Figure 5 shows
such a list for the demographic bank (Fig.
2)Of special importance is the development of conventions to standardize the input of information. This assures that uniform decisions are made by the same worker at different times and by different workers. The conventions established for the
demographic bank are shown in Figure 6.
Another list (not shown here) defines the
meaning of numbers assigned to CAGE#
(4) and is of little value to the reader except to note that several numbers are defined for special purposes, e.g., CAGE
#2047 indicates carcasses are preserved
INFORMATION
CONTROL
121
Descriptor List (III)
Female Reproduction, Rana
1
2
3
4
5
6
FROG # (FROM 1 TO 65535) ,
TIME (FROM 1 TO 2 4 ) ,
DAY (FROM 1 TO 367),
YEAR (FROM 1965 TO 1979) ,
CAGE # FROM 1 TO 2047) ,
ORIGIN (ORDER, WILD IMMED(1), WILD(2), LAB COND(3), LAB RAISED(4),
OTHERK5), OTHER2(6)),
7 AGE (FROM 0 TO 62 IN MOS),
8 LENGTH (FROM 10 TO 137 IN MM),
9 WET WT (FROM 5.0 TO 9 7.0 BY 0.1 IN G ) ,
10 TEMP (FROM 0.0 TO 3.0 BY 0.5 IN C ) ,
11 FOOD (NAME, 31).
12 FEEDING REG (NAME, 31),
13 OVUL ATTEMPTS (FROM 0 TO 30),
14 OVUL ATTEMPT INTERVAL (FROM 1 TO 511 IN DAYS),
15 OVUL SUCCESS (ORDER, NONE(l), JELLY(2), FEW EGGS(3), SOME EGGS(4),
EGGS(5), BLASTULA(6), NEURULA(7), LARVAE(8)),
16 PROGESTERONE DOSE (FROM 0.1 TO 15.0 BY 0.1 IN M G ) ,
17 PIT DOSE (FROM 0.5 TO 15.0 BY 0.5 IN PITS),
18 OTHER H COMBO (NAME, 31),
19 OH 1 DOSE (FROM 1 TO 127 IN UNITS),
20 OH 2 DOSE (=19),
21 OH 3 DOSE (=19),
22 CONTROL TREATMENT (NAME, 31),
23 EXPTL TREATMENT (NAME, 31),
24 INTERVAL (ORDER, READINESS CRIT(l), OBSERVATION(2)),
25 WEIGHT (=24),
26 LAPAROTOMY (=24),
27 SERUM ELECTRO ( = 24) ,
28 HEMATOCRIT (=24) ,
29 THERMOGRAPHY (=24),
30 HORMONE ASSAY (=24),
31 OTHER (NAME, 31),
32 Y0 (FROM 0 TO 100 IN %) ,
33 Yl (=32),
34 Y2 (=32),
35 Y3 (=32)
36 Y4 (=32)
37 Y5 (=32),
38 Y6 (=32)
39 Y7 (=32)
40 Y8 (=32)
41 Y4 OR Y5 DIAMETER (FROM 0.5 TO 2.5 BY 0.1 IN M M ) ,
42 OVIDUCT STATE (NAME, 7 ) ,
4 3 SERUM VOLUME (FROM 0.1 TO 1.5 BY 0.1 IN M L ) ,
44 HISTOLOGY-OVARY (ORDER, YES, NO),
45 HISTOLOGY-ADRENAL (=44) ,
46 HISTOLOGY-OTHER (=44),
47 OVARY/OVIDUCT PHOTO (NAME, 15),
4 8 USER (NAME, 63),
49 UPDATE SERIAL (FROM 1 TO 255)*
FIG. 4. The Descriptor List which defines the data
on reproduction currently recorded. This too is a
frog/time bank and allows serial observations.
(see use in Fig. 12).
netics, and pathology is to be collected, the
identification of individual organisms must
be unequivocal. As described in Nace
(1968), techniques of tattooing and cold
branding of frogs have been tested and
found wanting, either because the marks
faded within several months or could not
be applied to small, recently metamor-
TAXIR USE IN THE AMPHIBIAN FACILITY
Animal Idenlificalion (Disruptive
Patterning, Toe Clips)
If significant data on demography, ge-
122
NACE, RICHARDS, AND HAZEN
NAME Descriptors
21 PATTERN
BURNSI
KAHDIYOHI
KB
UNUSUAL (tessellated, speckle.
etc.)
WILD TYPE
22 COLOR
ALBINO
BLUE
BPOWN
COLOR CHANGED
GREEN
MELAHOID
UNUSUAL
23 SOURCE
AF (when produced at AF)
AF STAFF-STUDENT
BOREAL
GENTRY
KAWAKURA
MOGUL-ED (Lemberger)
MUMLEY
NASCO (Steinhilber)
NICUOLLS
paiVATE-:io:-i P R O F E S S
PRIVATE-PROFESS
SCIIETTLE
SW SCI CO
ZOO D (only if orig source
unknown)
DELANNEY
FLETCHER (formerly J.Cook)
HUMPHREY
39 SPECIAL CHARACTER
ABNORMAL LIMBS
BIOCHEM MUTANT
BIOPSY
BIOPSY-CIIROM ANAL
CHROi'iATOGRAM
CHROMOSOME ANALYSIS
DIET
ELECTROPHORESIS
HEMAT-ELHCTROPIIOUESIS (both)
HEMAT/ELECTRO +
(hemat and/or electro
plus another special
character)
HEMATOCRIT
OTHEK ABNORMALITY (not .p.Tiall
pupils)
OTHER TUMOR
SEX REVERSAL
SKIN GROWTH
38 LOCALITY
ARIZONA
CANADA
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
MASSACHUSETTS
MEXICO
MICH-ANN ARBOR AREA
MICH-LOWER PEN 11!
MICH-WHITMORE LAKE
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
NEBRASKA
NORTH CAROLINA
OHIO
TENNESSEE
VERMONT
WEST VIRGI!IIA
WISCONSIN
Z JAPA1I
ALABAMA
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DELAWARE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
HAWAII
IDAHO
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KAtiSAS
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MAIIII:
MARYLAND
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
MONTANA
NEVADA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
NORTH DAKOTA
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
PENNSYLVANIA
MOD:; ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TEXAS
UTAH
VIRGINIA
WASHINGTON
WYOMIMG
38 LOCALITY (con't)
Z AFRICA
Z ASIATIC OTHER
Z AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND
Z BELGIUM-NETHERLANDS
Z CARIBBEAN AREA
Z CENTRAL AMERICA
Z CHINA
Z ENGLAND
Z EUROPE OTHER
Z FRANCE
Z GERMANY
Z INDIA
Z KOREA
Z OCEANA (except Hawaii)
Z RUSSIA
Z SCANDINAVIA
Z SOUTH AMERICA
Z SPAIN
40 USER
GILL
HIRSCHFELD
MINI
MULCARE
PACE
RILEY
SAFRIEL
41 CONTROL FERT
GYNO IRRAD SPERM
GYHO OTHER
HAPLOID
HOMOZYGOUS DIPLOID
HYBRID
NUCLEOCYTO
POLYPLOID
SEX REVERSAL
FIG. 5. The list of descriptor states defined under
the NAME descriptors shown in Figure 2. Descrip-
tor states above "breaks" in the list have been
used; those below "breaks" have been assigned.
phosed animals. Rings and insert devices
have also proven inadequate because of
the nature of frog skin.
A system of identification based upon
characteristics of the disruptive patterning
of R. pi/iiens has been found most satisfactory and is applicable both in field and
laboratory studies (Figures 7, 8, and 9).
The guidelines followed in establishing
these pattern characteristics were: first,
that the system should not be based on
any anticipation of a biological significance
to the coded characteristics, rather, that it
should serve simply as a pragmatic tool
for the identification of animals; second,
that to facilitate the examination of animals in the field, in their containers, or
from photographs, only dorsal surface
markings should be used; third, that detailed spot counting would not result in
efficient utilization of the system; fourth,
that the fine details, e.g. spot coordinates,
of patterning should be disregarded in the
assignment of descriptor codes; and fifth,
INFORMATION C O N T R O L
123
DL (I)
Conventions
Only one genus to be treated in first bank, i.e. Rana.
1 FROG # consecutive within genus.
2 IDENT POS = identification (see mixed fertilizations & parents, below)
4 CAGE # refers to cage position. A certain day should be set for
shifts among cage mates. Before these shifts are made, a printout should be called. Also, a printout should be called after
shifts are made. This hard copy will then provide a permanent
record of animals which have been cage mates.
2044 = sent to Natural Science
2045 = sent to Animal Care (correct to 2046 when necropsy report
received)
2046 = Animal Care Unit necropsy report on file at AP (not pink
sheets). Takes precedence over 2047.
2047 = preserved at AF
15 LENGTH: note length in hard copy record. Keep only most recent
length in bank. LENGTH is used in DL (I) for identification
rather than morphometric purposes. For example, with an animal
of 40 mm in hand use query phrase "FROM 30 TO 45 MM" in combination with other descriptors to identify the animal.
16 & 17 DATE OF LAST ATTEMPTED OVULATION: only recorded for live
frogs. Keep earlier records on hard copy, showing only most
recent one in bank. Full data will be found in DL (III).
18
SUCCESS OF OVULATION: record for all females ever attempted to
ovulate. For live animals, most recent results. For dead animals, most successful ovulation and development ever reached
(not necessarily the most recent).
19 SEX: IMMAT = immature, for living animals, juveniles only; and for
dead tadpoles with indeterminate gonads.
UNKNOWN = blank = not sexed, not recorded, or too deteriorated
to sex.
UNCERT = uncertain = sexed, but no gonads or indeterminate
gonads (does not apply to tadpoles unless they have well
developed gonads)•
20 LUCKE: YES = for sure; MAYBE = questionable tumor on kidney;
UNKNOWN = all others.
PATTERN, COLOR, SOURCE, LOCALITY, SPECIAL CHARACTER, USER, CONTROL
FERT (Descriptor numbers 21,22,37,38,39,40,41 respectively): see
attached lists. Do not use any_ term that is not on these lists
(see Gretchen if you can't find an appropriate category).
FIG. 6. The list of conventions which stabilize data
input when using the demographic data bank
shown in Fig. 2. (Figure 6 continued on following
page.)
that the system should allow room for expansion as new pattern characteristics are
identified.
To serve these guidelines, the animal
was divided into several regions: the
"head", defined as the dorsal region anterior to a transverse line between the eyes
and the tympanic membranes; the "body",
defined as the dorsal region from this line
to the vent and bounded by the lateral
plicae; and "other", defined as any region
not encompassed by "head" and "body",
For each region, 15 options were allocated
for the description of disruptive patteming.
The description of head patterning is
124
N A C E , RICHARDS, AND H A Z E N
CLIP (descriptors 23-26) : use 0 for "none clipped" on that foot,
but other feet clipped. UNKNOWN = not clipped or not recorded
or, if one or more feet clipped, all toes are clipped. Digets
are numbered 1, 2, 4, 7 with hind thumbs = 9 (see diagram). Make
sure to use only numbers exactly as on descriptor list.
In Taxir record ONLY LIVE FROGS.
PAT (descriptors 28-31):
oped for each species.
different pattern codes are to be develAs of now, only R. pipiens is available.
27 PICTURE: for B&W, only record if photo actually present; color
photos are filed elsewhere, so record if noted on sheet.
32 DISPOSITION:
if MISSING, no date recorded in Taxir.
35 GROUP: 1 to 500 means actual count. 501 = 501 to 700; 502 = 701
to 1000; 503 = 1001 to 1500; 504 = 1501 to 2000; etc. This descriptor refers to the number of animals carrying the same FROG #,
e.g. tadpoles, shipments, etc. Use 1 for any FROG # referring
to one individual even if dead. DISPOSITION (32) for groups:
When last one disposed of, write disposition and date (when all
are gone). Introduce this date in Taxir. If no specific note
of last one dead, make it missing. For groups all dead at different times, GROUP = unknown, unless a final tally was made.
If some of group shipped, assign new number to those shipped
(unless already have numbers) - see Gretchen.
36 AGE AT DISPOSITION: time from fertilization, or time in Facility
where fertilization date not known. Round off to nearest month
(16 days or more = 1 month). Do not enter missing animalss.
41 CONTROL FERT: for those used as controls for gyno, sex reversal,
etc. , enter fertilization type for which it is the control.
Thus the FERT TYPE (11) of a CONTROL FERT (41) animal may be
BIPARENTAL but it may be a control for animals in a gynogenetic
experimental group and would be recorded here as "GYNO IRRAD SPERM".
42 UPDATE SERIAL: leave blank.
entered into Taxir.
This is filled in when the item is
Shipments Sent: new FROG # is assigned to shipment as a whole (unless
all have individual #'s already) when shipment is made. On the
sheet with this new FROG #, record FROG # (1) of each of the
groups which contributed to the shipment and the number of individuals from each group. Also record how many, date, to whom,
and new FROG # on the sheets of the groups involved.
Mixed parent fertilizations: on individual frog record sheet, record
all parent numbers. In Taxir, paternal number is left as UNKNOWN
if a preparation of sperm mixed from more than one male was used.
IDENT POS = YES.
Parantage confused (where do not know all parent numbers, i.e. when
wrong phenotype or species turns up in group): Keep all records
as all from one fertilization, but INDENT POS = NO.
Individual Frog Record sheet: when coded in Taxir, one should be able
to tell from this sheet the origin of all the Taxir information.
(If recorded missing in Taxir, note this on individual sheet with
date if not already there).
Initial in lower right corner Individual Frog Record Sheets you have
coded. Sign the "Coder's Register"" and show an example of your
initials. This register should also show the date you started
working with Taxir and the date you leave the laboratory.
FIG. 6 (cont)
125
INFORMATION CONTROL
HEAD PATTERNS
2
NO
SPOT ON
SPOTS
SNOUT ONLY
Eye Spots Unequal by Factor of Two
NO
SPOT ON
SNOUT
EYE
RIGHT
SPOTS
EYE
SPOTS
SPOT ON
SNOUT •
5
LEFT
RIGHT.
LEFT
A A
1
4 tlA
BOTH
NO SPOT
ON SNOUT
BOTH
10 SPOT ON
SNOUT
OTHER
EYE SPOT
15,
3 / 4 of spot
on eye
SNOUT SPOT
3 / 4 of spot between
or posterior to nostrils
and anterior to eye
BODY PATTERN
NO SPOTS ON MIDLINE
SPOTS ON MIDLINE
BODY
PATTERN
SPOTS
BETWEEN
PLICAE
POSTERIOR
TO EYE
ANTERIOR
TO VENT
15
OTHER
(NO EXAMPLE)
FIGS. 7, 8, and 9. Illustrations of the disruptive
pattern codes used to identify individual R. pipiens. The number associated with each insert pic-
ture is the pattern code number used in connection with Figures 1 and 2.
126
NACE, RICHARDS, AND HAZEN
BACKGROUND PATTERNS
FEW.COUNTABLE MOO)
.PINPOINT, DISCRETE OR FUSED
i
COMPLEX
COMPLEX
IRREGULAR
REGULAR
SCULPTING
SCULPTING
(as Tessellated) (QS Kondiyohi)
MANY (>IOO)
PINPOINT, DISCRETE
OR FUSED
OTHER PATTERNS
NO SPOTS ON ARMS
NONE ON |
ON LEGS
LEGS
FIG. 8
SPOTS ON ARMS
NONE ON I
ON LEGS
LEGS
127
INFORMATION CONTROL
CONVENTIONS
SPOT:
DETERMINED BY
CHARACTER OF
SURROUNDING SPOTS
Background
FUSED SPOT
Spot
= ONE SPOT
= IRREGULAR
Irregular
SPOT ON MIDLINE:
WHEN 1/3 OR MORE OF
SPOTOVER MIDLINE
R E G U L A R : APPROXIMATES
A SQUARE,OVAL OR CIRCLE
IRREGULAR:
NOT SYMMETRICAL,
INDENTED OR LONG
One Spot
LONG SPOT:
3x(or more) AS LONG
AS AVERAGE WIDTH
Regular
Long \
Irregular
Irregular
Long
Not on
Midline
On
Midline'
FIG. 9
evident by examination of Figure 7. Only
11 characteristics are currently defined, although others will be added as they become evident and useful for identification
purposes. For example, a population of
animals with two spots on the snout could
be defined. Currently, they are treated as
"other".
The body region was recognized as containing two types of markings: the gross
disruptive patterning shown in Figure 7
and the finer background patterning shown
in Figure 8. The characteristics of the gross
disruptive patterning are seen by examination of Figure 7 and as interpreted by the
conventions shown in Figure 9. The characteristics of the finer background patterning were defined as shown in Figure 8.
The characteristics of "other" patterns,
as currently defined, are shown in Figure
8. Much room is left for additions as needed.
It is evident that with only the characteristics as now defined and assuming their
uniform distribution in the population,
2860 animals can be distinguished. By the
128
NACE, RICHARDS, AND HAZEN
TOE CLIP
ADPLANTAR VIEW
(Dorsal)
FORE
CLIP TO
DOTTED LINE
lOO's
1,000's
20,000
T=9
10,000
T=9
HIND
PLANTAR VIEW
(Ventral)
30,000 = BOTH 20,000 AND 10. 000 CLIPPED.
ABOVE 39,999. TREAT AS FROM I TO 39,999.
FIG. 10. Diagram describing toe clip conventions.
No more than two toes on each foot are clipped
for each digit of numbers to 9,999.
INFORMATION CONTROL
addition of characteristics such as sex, size,
color, etc., many times this number of animals may be individually identified.
It has been found that with several hours
experience non-biologists can readily use
this pattern system for the identification
of animals. A frog, such as that shown to
illustrate body pattern 12 (Fig. 7), can be
identified as being of pattern code 7-12-1-4
with little more than cursory examination.
These numbers refer, respectively, to head
pattern, body pattern, background pattern,
and other pattern. While only fully developed for R. pipienSj each amphibian species possesses sufficient markings to allow
construction of a similar code system useful for identification purposes.
This system of coding is used in conjunction with photographs or drawn diagrams and additional information such as
gender, last recorded size, etc. As further
assurance of positive identification, a system of toe clipping is also used as illustrated in Figure 10. By clipping no more
than two toes on the fore limbs and three
toes on the hind limbs, a total of 39,999
animals may be uniquely identified. However, toe clipping, though useful, is not
adequate alone as clipping errors are frequent in a large installation and especially
when applied to small, active, recently
metamorphosed animals or to species with
regenerative capacities. Nevertheless, by recording in Taxir the actual toes clipped,
even erroneous clips have identification
value.
A "book" illustrated in Figure 11, printed by the computer, and ordered in the
sequence HEAD PAT (29), BODY PAT
(30), BACKGROUND PAT (28), OTHER
PAT (31), SEX (19), LENGTH (15), the
toe clip codes (23-26), FROG # (1), and
PICTURE (27) can quickly be searched
with frog in hand. The animal can then be
compared with the photographs or drawings of the animals which fit these descriptions and identification can be immediately confirmed. (In comparing Figure 10
with the toe clips shown in Figure 11, be
aware that the present toe clip system was
adopted for animals numbered above 10,-
129
000.)
In practice, groups of animals received
as shipments from dealers or collected in
the field or clutches of eggs are given a
single FROG # (1) such as 3,200. Metamorphosed animals are thus toe clipped.
GROUP (35) is then used to specify the
number of individuals within that group.
As the frogs are used for special purposes
or metamorphose, they are assigned an individual number, the last two digits of the
number are clipped and a black and white
photograph is taken with a measuring
scale included. (Note animal 3269 in Figure 11, whose toe clipping was not completed when the specific number was assigned.)
Illustrations of Information Retrieval
Figure 12 is a reproduction of a teletype
terminal printout of interaction between
an investigator and the information stored,
and illustrates several features of the versatility of this information control system.
The initial section includes the MTS statements which address the computer. The
phrase $RUN SBET:TAXIR 2=SBET:
FROGDICT 3=-X feeds into the computer the Taxir control system, the dictionary
for demographic data on each frog, and a
file (-X) which allows recording of selected
items for statistical manipulation.
There follows a series of questions. These
were typed by the investigator (lower case)
and echoed by the computer (upper case)
to assure the accuracy of communication
between the investigator and the computer. Each question is answered (upper case)
and several questions were asked to reduce
the number of items in the response, thus
illustrating in minimum space several
forms of querying and response. Note that
queries can be made either by spelling out
the descriptor names or by use of the descriptor numbers (see also Fig. 11). The
former allows ready comprehension, the
latter ready input. Also note that the format of the question controls the format of
the printed information, thus organizing
the data in the most efficient manner for
ID: FROG IDENTIFICATION BOOK
13
12
1
7
2
7 2 MM 2
- - - MM 1 2
MM 12
---
7
1
17
It9
It
itO
0
12
9
7
12
79
9
0
Ii7
It
B&W-COLOR
326'J
li&W
3 7 5 1 B&W
2125 BSW
2853
6U5B B&W
2115 BSW
6it50 B&W
2709 B&W
6931) B&W
Frog S Pic
11109 B&W
FIG. 11. A computer printout in a format to facilitate identification of individual frogs on the
basis of their disruptive patterns, sex, size, and toe
II)
If
27 MM 2k
92 MM 2
1
It
7
27
6 5 MM 2
28 MM 2It
MM 2
St* MM 2l»
CO. OF ITEMS IN QUERY RESPONSE =
25
IJO. OF ITEMS IN THE DATA BANK = G155
PERCENTAGE OF RESPONSE/TOTAL DATA'BANK » 0.U1
Head
1 Uody
1 Bkgrd
2 Other
Length
Toe Clips
4 Sox
33 MM 1 1 0
279
F
13
FROGS WITH NOT 29, UNKNOWN AND NOT 23, UNKNOWN*
PRINT: 29,30,28,31,(19,15,23,211,25,26,1,27) FOR
13
13
12
M
M
M
F
F
9 1 MM 2
65 MM 2
lit
17
21)
0
17
MM 2It
MM 12
MM 12
17
It
7
I*
lit
lit
17
17
17
1
MM 12
71 MM 21*
MM 2It
MM 21*
76 MM 2it
MM 2it
MM 2It
85 MM 12
90 MM 2
25 MM 1
17
lit
17
79
27
1
l|
0
1*9
1
0
79
19
lit
it
clips. B&W indicates a black and white picture is
on file for identification of fine details of patterning.
READY
end s
15
10
13
12
i|
7
1
29
9
79
9
79
1
79
7
17
0
lit
79
B&W
BSW
BfiW
BSW
285U
B&W-COLOR
2357 B&W
3672
6 0 6 3 B&W
3 8 8 1 B&W
3826
G£*It 1 BSK
6705
GU52 BSW
G52G B&W
65 05 BSW
6 8 6 7 B&W
38 30 B&W
2855 B&W-COLOR
Illlt7
z
N
PI
a
2
a
n
2?
n
n
o
INFORMATION
the particular purposes of the investigator
at the time of query. The series of queries
shown here illustrate the operations of
boolean algebra; AND (intersection),
NOT (complement) and OR (union).
The computer was then asked to GENERATE certain information onto the file
(-X). Upon completion of this, computer
control was shifted from Taxir to MIDAS,
the statistical package. Note that the series
of questions and the generation of the file
by Taxir required only 34 seconds of computer time. Commands defined by MIDAS
were used to obtain: first, a student's T
test of the set of data; second, a scatter
plot of size against age; and third, a histogram of the frequencies of animals of certain sizes. Note that numerical VARIABLES (V) 1,2 and categorical VARIABLE 3 (2) were LENGTH (15), AGE AT
DISPOSAL (36) and FERT/ACQ (8), respectively, and that the categorical VARIABLE, 3(2), (FERT/ACQ) was divided
into STRATA 1 and 2 for "fertilized in
the laboratory" and "acquired from outside", respectively.
In examining the student's T test printout, note that STRATUM 2 refers to acquired animals whose "age" was the period of residence in the laboratory rather
than the period from fertilization as was
the case for STRATUM 1. In examining
these analyses, used here for illustrative
purposes only, the reader should also note
that since these data were recorded in the
demographic rather than the morphometric data bank, the sizes of the animals as
recorded did not uniformly represent their
length at the time of disposal, especially
for those animals disposed of prior to the
adoption of Taxir. The significance of this
is evident when it is recalled that the individual records on approximately 30,000
animals were held in the Amphibian Facility at the time of this report and thus,
since only a backlog of 6,000 animals was
complete in Taxir, with a few exceptions,
the data base used for Figure 12 represented only the earliest records.
Finally, the execution was terminated
with a statement of the dollar and time
CONTROL
131
cost of the entire manipulation. The total
analysis was produced for a cost of $8.35
for 47 seconds of computer time and 35
minutes of terminal use. This should be
compared with the dollar and time cost
which can be imagined for manually sorting, assembling and computing this information on over 6,000 individual animals
from hard copy records; a project which
would have required the efforts of a high
level, professional staff member. In comparing these values, note that the cost of
developing and implementing Taxir has
been met and that the creation of data
banks involves less expense than adequate
manual cross indexing of hard copy.
Pattern Analysis
One guideline for the establishment of
the pattern codes (Figs. 7, 8, and 9) was
that they should not be constructed on the
basis of anticipated biological significance
of the pattern characteristics. If, however,
it could be shown that the patterns of
progeny of animals with specific pattern
characteristics were not uniformly distributed over the set of possible pattern characteristics, then it could be concluded that
the pattern characteristics, as assigned, in
fact, have biological significance, whether
or not the significance can be immediately
recognized. Demonstration of this constitutes another illustration of the power of
the Taxir-MTS-MIDAS combination in
bringing meaning to large bodies of randomly accessible data.
Figure 13 shows two, twoway cross-tabulations of data on progeny pattern characteristics. Taxir was searched for animals
whose disruptive patterns were known.
From this set, subsets of females and their
gynogenetic progeny were transferred to
MIDAS which produced the twoway crosstabulations. Each tabulation shows the
head pattern (across the top) and body
pattern (on the side) codes from Figure 7.
The tabulation on the left shows the
head and body patterns of 71 gynogenetic
progeny of a female (variable 12) whose
head and body patterns were, respectively,
MM
92.000
SCATTER
22
22
2
3 *
*
*
*
23
•5
•52
.1,9
26U
•
*
•2
*•5
It 8
6 6
7 2
856
6 75
*
*
2 2
•2
1.62
J8I<
4'5
665
"1X7
6XS
87X
475
XX2
9S7
»
CASES
11.555
58.65U
17DO
MEAN
VAR.
SIZE
1700
39.1i37
201.56
1700
MEAN
VAR.
SIZE
STRATUM 1
PLOT
VARIABLE
STUDENT'S T FOR 2 STRATA
1828 CASES READ
COMMAND
? s t u d 7=1/2 s t r a t a a v 3
IHPUT VARIABLES BY CASE
DF
SIGH I F
2'
GRAPH
2
22'
• 2 •
2
•
2-2
* * 3 •22 •
•
U32 " 42'
2.
2
•
• •
22 2 "
•3
•
•
"•232 22 7
J.*ti <l«2 5
2 2«
23 •>• • 2 3 •
6 « l t 3 322 2 •2 •
r*3 2 52 3
•t
• 2« 5 2 3
22. •
••5
* *
• 2*
• 2
FOR T H I S
T- lt.1850
1826
8.6010
67.911
F" 1 . 1 5 7 8
1699,
127
128
PROBdST MEAN > 2ND | S A M P L E ) -
.0000
.1176
.9999
8U.391
T = -31i.8G6
1826
0.
1118.65
F- 1 . 3 5 5 9
1C99,
127
.0138
128
PROG(1ST MEAN < 2ND | S A M P L E ) - 1 . 0 0 0 0
TEST STATISTIC
COMMAND
?read file=-x v=l,2,3(2) cases=l-2000 fo=single labels=mm,mos,f/a
M I 0 A S
(CONSTAT)
STATISTICAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
H*:UO.30
AUG 211, 1972
STOP
0
(•EXECUTION TERMINATED
*r stat:midas par»constat
'EXECUTION BEGINS
TOTAL RUN TIME IN SECONDS: 33.89*
SIGNON
WAS:
lU:02.SO
08-2U-72
8-24-72
32.80
0.37
CHARACTER,
character,
1969
KANDIYOHI
60 MM
61 MM
KB
25 MM
1
7
7
2 BlPARENTAL
9 BlPARENTAL
9 BlPARENTAL
NO. OF ITEMS IN QUERY RESPONSE •
10
NO. OF ITEMS IN THE OATA BANK • 6155
PERCENTAGE OF RESPONSE/TOTAL DATA BANK -
0.16
1203
B&W
80G BSW
788 B&W
PRINT: YEAR OF DISPOSAL, SEX, P A T T E R N , ( L E N G T H , HEAD P A T ,
body pat, fert type, frog t, p i c t u r e ) for frogs w i t h
BODY PAT, FERT T Y P E , FROG », P I C T U R E ) FOR FROGS WITH
result and cage *,20li7*
RESULT AND CAGE »,201(7*
READY
print: year of disposal, s e x , p a t t e r n , ( l e n g t h , head pat/
NO. OF ITEMS IN QUERY R E S P O N S E •
23
NO. OF ITEMS III THE DATA BANK • C 1 5 5
PERCENTAGE OF R E S P O N S E / T O T A L DATA BANK
HOW MANY FROGS WITH RESULT AND S P E C I A L
h e m a t - e l e c t r o p h o r e s i s*
HEMAT-ELECTROPHORESIS*
REAOY
how many frogs with result and special
NO. OF ITEMS IN QUERY RESPONSE " 1158
NO. OF ITEMS IN THE DATA BANK = 615S
PERCENTAGE OF RESPONSE/TOTAL DATA BANK - 13.81
HOW MANY WITH RESULT AND YEAR OF DISPOSAL,1969 OR 1970*
REAOY
how many with result and year of disposa1,1969 or 1970*
NO. OF ITEMS IN QUERY RESPONSE » 2019
NO. OF ITEMS IN THE DATA BANK - 6155
PERCENTAGE OF RESPONSE/TOTAL DATA BANK
HOW MANY FROGS WITH FERT/ACQ,FERT AND NOT LENGTH,UNKNOWN*
READY
how many frogs with fert/acq,fert and not length,unknown*
READY
id: taxir-midas demo
ID: TAXIR-MIDAS DEMO
i USER " O A W SIGNED ON AT 11*: 17. 10 ON
*$run sbet:taxir 2=sbet:frogdict 3=-x
*EXECUTION BEGINS
#«'LAST
7IECIBB31CBECOB
MTS ( L A 1 7 - 0 0 7 8 )
« s i g Oa 1 ^
#ENTER USER PASSWORD.
N
PI
o
z
D
O
X
n
OS
•
1 •
3222
72222
I.
•
2 •
U.J19
MOS
St.000
»APPROX.
$1.01.35
$.02
SI.75
$l<.09
52.52
FIG. 12. A computer printout of interaction between the investigator and the computer. See text
REMAINING BALANCE:
'EXECUTION TERMINATED
«slg
»OFF AT 1<»: 52.16
08-2W2
35.1
MIN.
'ELAPSED TIME
4 7 . H 5 SEC.
•CPU TIME USED
Ii8.li3l<
PAGE-MIN.
'CPU STOR VMI
35.756 PAGE-HR.
•WAIT STOR VMI
U
1
5
•DRUM READS
$8.35
*APPROX. COST OF THIS RUN IS
'DISK STORAGE
117
PAGE-HR.
COMMAND
?finish
11.000
•1
15.000
•2
19.000
•XXXX30
23.000
•XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX139
27.000
•XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX308
31.000
•XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX271
35.000
•XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX109
39.000
•XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX138
1*3.000
+XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX107
1*7. 000 + XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXU8
51.000
•XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX121
55.000
•XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX101
59.000
•XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXS1
63.000
•XXXXX35
67.000
•XXXXXX36
71.000
•XXXXXX38
75.000
• X15
79.000
• Xll
83.000
•3
87.000
91.000
»2
1700 OBSERVATIONS PLOTTED (EACH X" 5)
MM
HISTOGRAH/FREQUENCIES
COMMAND
?h!st v»l
11.000
"I." 2-3X X7X «5I)
•)•
3 - 7 5 S7I| 21.5
•76
3 - 3 01.5 2-J
535 21*47 X/9 25
7555 I ' l 1 •
X'.Xo Xi.8 -82
X X99S 61.2 CC2
795X 3 2 2 3 3 2
XX X9XX It • 2 3 *
8 21.! 2
7
10
2028 B&lf
2025 B&W
786 BSW
78 7 B&W
9 BlPARENTAL
9 BlPARENTAL
12 BI PARENTAL
8 BI PARENTAL
It GYIIO IRRAD SPERM
1191 B4W
1180 B&W
8 BI PARENTAL
1 BlPARENTAL
M
M
WILD TYPE
KB
F
M
KANDIYOHI
19G7
1967
1968
1968
1968
1968
7
7
7
1
1
1
7
10
1968
7
7
1968
1967
9
12
9
1
2
8
14
8
9
9
60 MM
60 MM
ik MM
<>9 MM
25 MM
l*S MM
53 MM
70 MM
61 MM
60 MM
1*3
1)3
219
I.I*
1< U
25
61
61
61
219
60
60
60
219
25
ii3
25
1.1*
•ill
0.16
786
737
2025
1180
1203
1191
2 01*1
2028
788
806
for explanation.
READY
end s
STATISTICS FILE LINE NO. RANGE
HO. OF VARIABLES = 3
1 - 1828
NO. OF ITEMS IN QUERY RESPONSE • 1828
NO. OF ITEMS IN THE DATA BANK - C155
PERCENTAGE OF RESPONSE/TOTAL DATA BANK • 29.70
GENERATE: 15,36,8 FOR FROGS WITH NOT 15, UNKNOWN AND
not 3b, unknown and not 8, unknown and 2,1»
NOT 36, UNKNOWN AND NOT 8, UNKNOWN AND 2,1«
generate: 15,36,8 for frogs with not 15, unknown and
READY
BSW
NO. OF ITEMS IN QUERY RESPONSE "
10
HO. OF ITEMS IN THE DATA BANK » 6155
PERCENTAGE OF RESPONSE/TOTAL DATA SANK
PRINT: PICTURE, PATTERN, SEX, (METAMORPHOSIS YEAR, HEAD PAT,
body pat, length, mother I, father i, frog >) for frogs
BODY PAT, LENGTH, MOTHER t. FATHER •, FROG ') FOR FROGS
wi th resu1t*
WITH RESULT*
READY
print: picture/ pattern, sex, (metamorphosis year, head pat/
KANDIYOHI
53 MM
70 MM
1*3 MM
1(9 MM
WILD TYPE
S«t MM
60 MM
60 MM
oo
134
NACE, RICHARDS, AND HAZEN
"7" and "10" (Fig. 7). Since the progeny
were produced by gynogenetic reproduction (Nace et al., 1970), there was no paternal contribution to these animals and
any genetic basis for their pattern determination must have been solely of maternal origin. It is of interest, then, to note:
(1) that the only head patterns among the
progeny were "7" and "10", 2 of the 11
possible head patterns; (2) that these head
patterns showed a 1:1 distribution among
the progeny; (3) that one of these, "7",
was the maternal pattern; (4) that only
7 of the possible 13 body patterns appeared; (5) that 46% of the progeny body
patterns associated with progeny head pattern "7" were body pattern "9", thus associating "no spots on snout" with "6-10
regular body spots"; and (6) that 36% of
the progeny body patterns associated with
progeny head pattern "10" were body pattern "10", the maternal body pattern, thus
associating "spot on snout" with "ll-fregular body spots".
The tabulation on the right shows the
combined head and body patterns of 91
gynogenetic progeny of 7 burnsi mothers
whose head and body patterns were, respectively, " 1 " and "1". Again there was
no paternal genetic contribution. Since the
i?. pipiens phenotype recognized as burnsi
is not restricted to animals with the pattern combination "1-1" (Moore, 1942;
Volpe, I960, 1961), and since the burnsi
to wildtype ratio is 84:16 (Nace et al.,
1970), it is of interest that 74.7% of the
progeny of these 7 "1-1" females showed
the phenotype "1-1". Additionally, when
body patterns with 1-5 spot counts ("8" -f"11") are added, the percentage of "burnsi" progeny becomes 82.4. Also revealed
are characteristics of the head and body
patterns which in the past have been combined under the rubric "wildtype". It is
evident that not all pattern combinations
are equally probable.
One is forced to conclude, even on the
basis of this single "7-10" female and the
7 burnsi "1-1" females and their gynogenetic progeny, that definable genetic relationships do control disruptive patterning
(Gill, 1971) and that the phenotypic expressions of these genetic relationships are
reflected in the pattern code as defined,
but that some components of the pattern
code probably represent variations in the
phenotypic expression.
These twoway cross-tabulations were produced in seconds by MIDAS for only $1.36,
an insignificant time and dollar cost relative to the significance of the information
produced. Although these two tabulations,
vised for illustrative purposes, do not constitute sufficient data for an adequate discrimination between the genetic and nongenetic parameters controlling disruptive
patterning as they relate to the pattern
characteristics described here (Figs. 7, 8,
and 9), they do indicate the potential value
of such an analysis. This will be forthcoming through the power of this information
control system.
CONCLUSION AND SUMMARY
Efficient attainment of the objectives of
the Amphibian Facility was seriously challenged by the impossibility of controlling
the accumulated mass of information. Yet
the paucity of backgiound information on
amphibian demography, genetics and
pathology forced us to continue its accumulation. This led to increasing difficulty
in using manual techniques to answer such
questions as: What is the positive identification of this frog? Is the data recorded
for this animal both complete and accurate? What is our animal inventory and
how have the animals been used? Which
females are appropriate mates for this valuable but sick mutant male? How should
dietary regimens be modified to attain specific growth or maturation objectives?
What treatment has proven most effective
to cure this infrequently observed disease?
Quite clearly computer techniques were
needed to answer such questions. This, itself posed problems: the apparent need for
ad hoc solutions to specific information
control problems is confusing; the training of staff to use competently diverse ad
135
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of the head and body
progeny of a female
and whose body patand of seven burnsi
females whose head patterns were " 1 " and whose
body patterns were " 1 " (on the right) . See text for
additional explanation.
hoc solutions is difficult; transferring the
control of information from the hands of
scientists in specific fields to computer specialists seems undesirable; and, it is reputed that the costs of computerization, especially if it involves the full-time employment of computer technologists, is high.
Solutions to these problems were immediately evident upon introduction to the
Taxir system described here. It required
no detailed knowledge of computer operation or computer languages. Ad hoc solutions were not needed and personnel training requirements were modest. The perma-
FIG. 13. A computer analysis
patterns of the gynogenetic
whose head pattern was "7"
tern was "10" (on the left)
136
NACE, RICHARDS, AND HAZEN
nent employment of computer technologists was not needed and funds for the system itself were needed only for local implementation, not for development. Costs
of backlog information input were modest,
and running costs for new information input were no greater, and probably less,
than information recording without computer assistance. The cost of information
retrieval was minor, remarkably less than
the cost of manual information retrieval,
and inconsequential in comparison with
the value of the information retrieved and
analyzed. And, the University of Michigan
computer facilities were ideally suited to
the needs of Taxir. Only modest funds
were needed to implement Taxir on the
Michigan facilities and to add new and
useful features to Taxir to take full advantage of the capabilities of the Michigan
facilities. Further, information control
problems experienced by others at the University of Michigan and capable of solution by Taxir, led to the distribution of
implementation costs among a number of
potential users.
This report describes and illustrates the
major features of Taxir and shows how it
is interfaced with the Michigan Terminal
System (MTS) and the Michigan Interactive Data Analysis System (MIDAS). The
illustrations of Taxir function described
the disruptive patterning and toe clipping
systems used to identify individual amphibians, in the case R. pipiens. Illustration of the interfacing of Taxir and MIDAS demonstrated that the disruptive pattern codes used for identification also have
potential value in the study of R. pipiens
genetics. These patterns, as defined, are
not devoid of biological significance,
though such significance was not assumed
in the development of the system.
It should be evident from the experience
of the Amphibian Facility that Taxir may
be of value to many investigators. Since
Taxir is in the public domain, it is available to all. For those with local access to
large computer installations, arrangements
for Taxir implementation may be made by
communication with Mr. Brill through the
authors. For those who desire, the Taxir
installation at the University of Michigan
may be used through the employment of
standard telephone lines and adherence to
the University's guidelines for outside
users. A time investment measured only in
days would be adequate to become acquainted with the system, although some
assistance would be valuable in the initial
structuring of information banks for economic use of Taxir.
REFERENCES
Asher, J. H., Jr. 1970. Parthenogenesis and genetic
variability. II. One-locus models for various diploid populations. Genetics 66:369-391.
Asher, J. H., Jr., and G. W. Nace. 1971. The genetic structure and evolutionary fate of parthenogenetic amphibian populations as determined by
Markovian analysis. Amer. Zool. 11:381-398.
Brill, R. C. 1971. The Taxir Primer. Occasional
Paper No. 1, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, Boulder, Colorado.
Estabrook, G. F., and R. C. Brill. 1969. The theory
of the TAXIR accessioner. J. Math. Biosci. 5:
327-340.
Gibbs, E. L., G. W. Nace, and M. B. Emmons.
1971. The live frog is almost dead. BioScience
21:1027-1034.
Gill, S. J. 1971. A genetic and developmental
analysis of the cytophysiology of the disruptive
pigmentary patterning in Rana pipiens. Doctoral
Thesis. The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Joiner, G. N., and G. D. Abrams. 1970. Tuberculosis in the leopard frog. J. Infectious Diseases
122:96-99.
Moore, J. A. 1942. An embryological and genetic
study of Rana burnsi Weed. Genetics 27:408-416.
Nace, G. W. 1968. The Amphibian Facility of The
University of Michigan. BioScience 18:767-775.
Nace, G. W. 1970. The use of amphibians in biomedical research, p. 103-124. In Animal models
for biomedical research. III. Proceedings of a
Symposium. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.
Nace, G. W., and C. M. Richards. 1969. Development of biologically defined strains of amphibians, p. 409-418. In M. Mizell fed.], Biology of
amphibian tumors. Springer-Verlag, New York.
Nace, G. W., C. M. Richards, and J. H. Asher, Jr.
1970. Parthenogenesis and genetic variability. I.
Linkage and inbreeding estimations in the frog,
Rana pipiens. Genetics 66:349-368.
Richards, C. M., D. T. Tartof, and G. W. Nace.
1969. A melanoid variant in Rana pipiens. Copeia 1969:850-852.
Rogers, D. J., and G. F. Estabrook. 1970. Theoretical and practical considerations on data
INFORMATION CONTROL
structuring for a computerized information retrieval system, p. 145-159. In Archeologie et calculateurs: problems semiologiques et mathematique. Editions du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris.
Smith-Gill, S. J., C. M. Richards, and G. W. Nace.
1972. Genetic and metabolic bases of two "albino" phenotypes in the leopard frog, Rana
pipiens. J. Exp. Zool. 180:157-167.
137
Van der Steen, A. B. M., B. J. Cohen, D. H. Ringier> c . D. Abrams, and C. M. Richards. 1972.
Cutaneous neoplasms in the leopard frog (Rana
Lab Anim sd
22:216.222
„
.
V o I e E P 1 9 6 0 I n t e r a c t l 0 n oi m u t a n t
P ' - "
'
g e n e s >"
the
leopard frog. J. Heredity 51:151-155.
Volpe, E. P. 1961. Variable expressivity of a mutant gene in leopard frog. Science 134:102-104.