A Statistical Theory of Sequence Alignment with Gaps

Astatistical theory of local alignmentalgorithms with gaps is presented. Both the linear and logarithmic phases, as well as the phase transition separating the two phases, are described in a quantitative way. Markovsequences without mutual correlations are shownto havescale-invariant alignmentstatistics. Deviationsfromscale invariance indicate the presence of mutualcorrelations detectable by alignment algorithms. Conditions are obtained for the optimal detection of a class of mutualsequencecorrelations.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1998
• Where: ISMB
• Authors: Dirk Drasdo, Terence Hwa, Michael Lässig
• Keywords: Computational Biology, ISMB 1998, Logarithmic Phases, Phase Transition, Shownto Havescale-invariant Alignmentstatistics