Sequence search algorithms for single pass sequence identification: does one size fit all?
2001

Comparing Sequence Search Algorithms for Single Pass Identification

Sample size: 909 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): K. Cara Woodwark, Simon J. Hubbard, Stephen G. Oliver

Primary Institution: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, UMIST

Hypothesis

Does one size fit all when using sequence search algorithms for single-pass sequence identification?

Conclusion

WuBLASTn is more effective than ncbiBLASTn for identifying coding sequences in closely related species when using default parameters.

Supporting Evidence

  • WuBLASTn finds longer alignments than ncbiBLASTn.
  • The study used 909 sample sequences from S. bayanus.
  • Different default parameters between the two algorithms affect the results.

Takeaway

This study looked at different computer programs that help scientists find similar DNA sequences. It found that one program is better at finding matches than another.

Methodology

The study compared the performance of Washington University's and NCBI's BLAST algorithms using sample sequences from S. bayanus against a database of S. cerevisiae coding regions.

Limitations

The study does not definitively identify the correct homologues until the whole genome is sequenced.

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