FeatureStack: Perl module for comparative visualization of gene features

Summary: FeatureStack is a Perl module for the automatic generation of multi-gene images. FeatureStack takes BioPerl-compliant gene or transcript features as input and renders them on top of each other using a user-defined BioPerl glyph. Output images can be generated in SVG or PNG format. FeatureStack comes with a new BioPerl glyph, decorated_gene, which can highlight protein features on top of gene models. Used in combination, FeatureStack and decorated_gene enable rapid and automated generation of large and annotation-rich images of stacked gene models that greatly facilitate evolutionary studies of related gene structures and gene families. Availability and Implementation: Bio-Draw-FeatureStack and BioGraphics-glyph-decorated_gene are freely available at the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network (CPAN) and GitHub.