Biological Sequence Search

To establish how a newly created sequence compares with known sequences, using BLAST alignment regions — which helps determine whether the invention involves a biomarker, a GMO, an antibody and so on.

To make it possible to produce artificially modified or recombinant proteins and nucleic acids — DNA, RNA, enzymes, hormones, peptides.

Before launching a product or scaling up, a sequence search establishes whether target genes or proteins have already been claimed, by searching and evaluating granted patents that use the sequences of interest.

It helps establish whether a claimed sequence is known in the prior art, or was arrived at using obvious earlier-known sequences — the question that decides enforceability checks and infringement cases.

Worth running before you license an innovation or enter a collaboration around it.

Sequence searching can be significant while the product is still at an early or prototype phase, when there is still room to change direction.

Our sequence searchers are well versed in how patent claims reference biological sequences — as sub-sequences, precise sequences, homology percentages, super sequences and so on.

Our searchers take time establishing the query sequence and choosing which databases to search. That keeps costs down, particularly where multiple sequences are involved, while still giving the coverage needed.

Our internal R and MATLAB scripts combine and filter results from databases such as STN, which reduces expense and increases accuracy.

Further scripts automatically correct OCR data for sequences and perform alignment to measure homology percentage — particularly useful in FTO searches.

We have access to numerous free and paid databases — STN, Orbit, Derwent Innovation, GenomeQuest — with extensive coverage and full text across jurisdictions, supporting specialised and supplementary searches.

The report covers sequence alignment, identity percentage, coverage and sequence location, laid out to be read rather than decoded.

We provide the actual search transcripts, so you can see exactly what was run and what it cost.

Where you would rather searches ran on your own database subscription, we are happy to work that way.