#bases & # reads

[CS Student]

Hi,

I am new to bioinformatics and appreciate your help answering this question.

I have a reads file [a sample is attached] and want to count the number of #bases and number of reads in this file, how do I do this? Is there a relation between the #bases and # reads in a reads file? i,e if the #bases information is available for a particular reads file, can I immediately calculate the number of reads?


Thanks.

[chadn737]

Assuming that all the reads are of a uniform length and have not been modified in some way (trimmed), then each read will be the same number of bases.

In your sample fastq file:

@SRR019388.1.1 SLXA-EAS1_126_FC20H6L_0_7_1_490_23.1 length=35
GTCAAATATAGTGAGTACAGGAAAATAGGTGGAGA
+SRR019388.1.1 SLXA-EAS1_126_FC20H6L_0_7_1_490_23.1 length=35
<<<<<<<<<<<<;<<<<<<<<<<<<<<9<<;;7<;

So your reads are 35bps long. If you know the number of reads just multiple by 35 and that equals the number of bases.

[westerman]

Hi,

I am new to bioinformatics and appreciate your help answering this question.

I have a reads file [a sample is attached] and want to count the number of #bases and number of reads in this file, how do I do this? Is there a relation between the #bases and # reads in a reads file? i,e if the #bases information is available for a particular reads file, can I immediately calculate the number of reads?


Thanks.

There are several programs (e.g., get_fasta_stats -- search the forum for them) that will calculate read/base stats. You could also 'wc -l' the fastQ file and divide by 4 for the number of reads. Bases are bit more difficult to find via simple unix tools. Basically I suggest you do more reading and searching in the forum. Always a good way to find out information.

There is no relation between #bases and #reads.

[westerman]

Assuming that all the reads are of a uniform length and have not been modified in some way (trimmed), then each read will be the same number of bases.

And that is a big assumption. Sure, you could look at the start of the file and at the end of the file and see reads being 35 bases in length ... but are all? I wouldn't want to guarantee this on an unknown file.

Actually from the sample file, 'CS student' should be able to figure out how many reads and the length of the reads (since this is given) via simple unix tools --- which any CS student should know. I'd use 'grep', 'cut', 'sort', and 'uniq'.

[GenoMax]

Actually from the sample file, 'CS student' should be able to figure out how many reads and the length of the reads (since this is given) via simple unix tools --- which any CS student should know. I'd use 'grep', 'cut', 'sort', and 'uniq'.

Perhaps "CS Student" needs help understanding the "fastq" file format to follow your suggestion. May be a true beginner (can't tell from looking at "CS Student's" posting history).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FASTQ_format

[CS Student]

Thank you very much for your explainations. This is all what I wanted to know about # reads and #bases.