describes a method and system for improving the ability to quantitate the amount of flux or material in localized collections of such flux or material typically called a &# 34 ; spot &# 34 ;. quantitation of spots using a software algorithm which utilizes models in two opposite senses for quantitating peaks in a spot image of an electrophoresis gel is disclosed . the operating system includes a laser gel scanner module , a computer module , system peripherals , and analysis software .