Individual sequences in large sets of gene sequences may be distinguished efficiently by combinations of shared sub-sequences

Background: Most current DNA diagnostic tests for identifying organisms use specific oligonucleotide probes that are complementary in sequence to, and hence only hybridise with the DNA of one target species. By contrast, in traditional taxonomy, specimens are usually identified by 'dichotomous keys' that use combinations of characters shared by different members of the target set. Using one specific character for each target is the least efficient strategy for identification. Using combinations of shared bisectionally-distributed characters is much more efficient, and this strategy is most efficient when they separate the targets in a progressively binary way. Results: We have developed a practical method for finding minimal sets of sub-sequences that identify individual sequences, and could be targeted by combinations of probes, so that the efficient strategy of traditional taxonomic identification could be used in DNA diagnosis. The sizes of minimal sub-sequence sets depen...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2005
• Where: BMCBI
• Authors: Mark J. Gibbs, John S. Armstrong, Adrian J. Gibbs
• Keywords: BMCBI 2005, Efficient Strategy, Most Current Dna, Sub-sequences 20 Nucleotides