The program SAMOVA implements an approach to define groups of populations that are geographically homogeneous and maximally differentiated from each other. As a by-product, it also leads to the identification of genetic barriers between these groups. The method is based on a simulated annealing procedure that aims at maximizing the proportion of total genetic variance due to differences between groups of populations (SAMOVA, Spatial Analysis of MOlecular VAriance). The author is Isabelle Dupanloup.

The web site of the current version (1.0) can be found here.

The software can be cited as: Dupanloup, I, S. Schneider, L. Excoffier (2002) A simulated annealing approach to define the genetic structure of populations. Molecular Ecology 11: 2571-81.