my $date = shift @_;
  my $show_filter = shift @_;
  my $oldRefFile = shift @_;
  my $blast_filehandle = shift @_;
  my $ref_filehandle = shift @_;
  my $email = shift @_;
  my $send_email = shift @_;
  my $show_all = shift @_;
  my @OrigRef = @{shift @_};
  my @blastLine = @{shift @_};
  my @species_filter = @{shift @_};
  my @chromo_filter = @{shift @_};
  my @advanced_filter = @{shift @_};