1. A computer implemented method of assessing relatedness from autoradiograms including one or more banded lanes having a vertical, lengthwise dimension and a horizontal, widthwise dimension, each banded lane being distorted in both of the dimensions, the method comprising the steps of: (a) digitizing an autoradiogram, including the banded lanes; (b) averaging in the computer said digitized lanes over a substantial portion of the widthwise dimension to identify the bands of said digitized lanes; (c) comparing in the computer said identified bands to reference bands of a standard banded lane and generating in the computer a set of conserved bands that includes those identified bands that generally correspond to said reference bands; (d) dividing in the computer said digitized lanes into sections separated at vertical positions between said conserved bands, each of said sections having a length and a position; (e) aligning in the computer one or more of said sections to straighten each banded lane along a vertical axis; (f) adjusting in the computer the length and position of one or more of said sections to bring said conserved bands into horizontal alignment with said reference bands; (g) generating in the computer similarity coefficients between said lanes; and (h) generating dendograms based on said similarity coefficients.