A test for the statistical significance of DNA sequence similarities for application in databank searches.
A method is developed, based on word-searching, which provides a rapid test for the statistical significance of DNA sequence similarities for use in databank searching. The method makes allowance for the lengths and dinucleotide compositions of the sequences being compared. A way is also described to calculate the power of the test, i.e. the probability of detecting a given similarity as being statistically significant. The effects on the power of the test of the scoring method, word length, sequence length, and sequence composition are examined. A novel scoring method is shown to be superior to the method currently used in most word-searching algorithms.
Mott
R F
RF
Laboratory of Mathematical Biology, National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK.
Kirkwood
T B
TB
Curnow
R N
RN
D001483:Base Sequence; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D008390:Markov Chains; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D011336:Probability; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D005914:Globins