gamma distribution/PHYLIP

[Nicolas Chalwatzis, MIPS]

Dear Netters,

- the program DNADIST of the PHYLIP package has the option to calculate 
  sequence distances based on a gamma-distribution (Jin and Nei 1990). 
  However, the program requires the "Coefficient of variation of substitution 
  rate among sites (must be positive)"  -  What's the best way to evaluate 
  this coefficient for a given dataset (sequence alignment) ?

Best wishes and many thanks in advance,

Nico Chalwatzis

e-mail: chalwatzis at mips.embnet.org