Dear all, I have received many very helpful answers and comments regarding my query about software programmes with the option of constructing individual-based distance files and or trees. The take-home message of all these answers was that I should go for either the MSA (Microsatellite Analyser) software by Dieringer and Schlötterer, which offers many options not implemented in Microsat but requires a particular infile, or the programme Populations by Langella, which also covers individual-based distances and trees. I would very much like to thank all who have enlightened me on this matter your help was very valuable to me! Cheers, Frank Dr. Frank E. Zachos Mammalian Biology (Managing Editor) Zoological Institute Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel Olshausenstrasse 40 (postal address) 24118 Kiel, Germany Tel.: +49 / (0)431 - 8804529 Fax: +49 /(0)431 - 8801389 fzachos@zoologie.uni-kiel.de Frank Zachos