Scan Statistics in DNA and Protein Sequence Analysis

Abstract

Scientists in fields ranging from evolution to medicine compare protein or DNA sequences from several biological sources. DNA is a long molecule, deoxyribonucleic acid, that contains genetic codes that control biological processes. The DNA molecule most often consists of two strands of nucleotides each consisting of a deoxyribose residue, a phosphate group, and a nucleotide base. The four nucleotide bases (or bases for short) are denoted A, C, G, T corresponding to adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. The deoxyribose residues linked by phosphate bonds are like the backbone of a single strand of a long necklace with the bases being attached beads. The two strands are linked by hydrogen bonds between pairs of bases, where an A on one strand links with T on the other strand, and a C on one strand links with a G on the other strand. Knowing the sequence of bases in one strand automatically gives the sequence in the complementary strand.