Introduction

Biological sequence analysis is a fundamental step in understanding genes, proteins, and their functions. Researchers often begin by comparing sequences, identifying similarities, and searching databases to find related sequences that can reveal evolutionary relationships or functional clues.

This tutorial introduces the basic concepts behind sequence search and sequence alignment, and then guides you through practical analysis using the EMBL-EBI’s Job Dispatcher platform, which provides access to widely used tools for sequence comparison and analysis.

Rather than focusing heavily on theory, this tutorial is designed to help you quickly move from concepts to practical application, allowing you to confidently run analyses using commonly used tools.

Before moving on to the Job Dispatcher platform, let’s first get familiar with the key concepts and terms used in sequence alignment and analysis.