The invention provides novel methods for characterizing the function of nucleic
acids and polypeptides. The invention provides a novel method for identifying a
nucleic acid or a polypeptide sequence that may be a target for a drug. The invention
provides a novel method for identifying a nucleic acid or a polypeptide sequence
that may be essential for the growth or viability of an organism. The characterization
is based on use of methods of the invention comprising algorithms that can identify
functional relationships between diverse sets of non-homologous nucleic acid and
polypeptide sequences. The invention provides a computer program product, stored
on a computer-readable medium, for identifying a nucleic acid or a polypeptide
sequence that may be essential for the growth or viability of an organism. The
invention provides a computer program product, stored on a computer-readable medium,
for identifying a nucleic acid or a polypeptide sequence that may be a target for
a drug. The invention provides a computer system, comprising a processor and a
computer program product of the invention.
