A segmentation method of a frame of image information including a plurality of
spaced DNA spot images corresponding to a plurality of DNA spots. The image information
includes image intensity level information corresponding to said DNA spots. The
frame is stored in a memory device and a set of image information within said frame
including a selected set of the DNA spot images is selected. A grid including a
plurality of spaced grid points corresponding to said selected DNA spot images
is generated, such that each grid point includes position information indicating
the position of the grid point within said frame. The current position of one or
more grid points are adjusted by: selecting a first bounding area in the frame
around the current position of the grid point; generating a first position update
including position information for updating a current position of said grid point
to a first new position within the first bounding area, the location of said first
new position relative to said current position being a function of intensity level
of at least a portion of the image within the first bounding area; generating a
second position update including position information for updating said current
position to a second new position in the frame, said second new position being
in a geometric arrangement with the position of grid points around said grid point;
and updating said current position with the position information of the first and
the second position updates, thereby shifting said grid point toward the corresponding
spot image. A display method displays image information corresponding to a plurality
of DNA spot images of at least one DNA spot, the image information including image
characteristic values including background and signal intensity levels. For each
DNA spot image: (1) background and signal intensity levels are extracted from the
image characteristic values for the spot image, and (2) difference values between
the background intensity levels and signal intensity levels are determined. For
each DNA spot: (1) the corresponding difference values are related a range of graphic
values, (2) a graphic value for each difference value is selected; and (3) the
selected graphic values are displayed.