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conserved vs. consensus - (Jun/20/2007 )

Hi,

Sometimes, I come across the words "conserved" and "consensus" in sequence alignment. May I know what are the difference(s) between these two?

Thank you very much..

-why-

QUOTE (why @ Jun 21 2007, 11:26 AM)
Hi,

Sometimes, I come across the words "conserved" and "consensus" in sequence alignment. May I know what are the difference(s) between these two?

Thank you very much..

If a sequence is conserved, typically it means identity. By contrast, a consensus sequence is made up from the sequences of a number of organisms, and 'averaged'.

-swanny-