Abstract: A computer implemented method for characterizing one or more sequences by generating index values representing portions of the sequences and finding characterizing index values based on a comparison of the index values. The index values may be obtained by applying one or more mask over each sequence. The modified masks may have associated weightings and index values obtained using modified masks may be retained in the index only if the weightings are above a threshold value. Characterising index values may also be assessed for for their degree of uniqueness. Characterizing indexes may be used for predicting correlation between a sample sequence and one or more reference sequences. Biological monitoring systems utilising the characterizing index values are also disclosed. A biological indicator may be generatgenerated using one or more characterizing index values obtained by the above method and be used to produce an indicator that undergoes a property change in the presence of the one or more sequence.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for evaluating the correlation between sequences by entering segments of one sequence in a database and comparing segments of the other sequence with the index values to find correlated segments. The correlated segments are analysed to determine whether the spacing is within a defined range indicating that a correlation threshold has been met. A processing methodology may be employed whereby a coarse potential alignment algorithm is first applied to determine potential alignment at a plurality of potential alignment positions, which are filtered based on alignment scores, and a fine alignment algorithm is then applied.