# Convert this: values %{$hash_geno_group{$sample_geno_group}{$cds}{"rc"}} # to this: my $sample_geno_group_ref = $hash_geno_group{$sample_geno_group}; my $sample_cds = $sample_geno_group_ref->{$cds}; my $sample_rc = $sample_cds->{"rc"};