The 7.02 database search tutorial uses BLAST, a program from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce you to database searching using Web-based resources, and has been designed to take you step-by-step through BLAST.

The BLAST program allows you to submit an unknown sequence of DNA; it compares your submitted sequence with all of the sequences in the databases at the NCBI, and returns to you a summary of matches that will allow you to identify your sequence. You will also be able to search the protein databases which can suggest the function and mechanism of action of your query sequence.

As you work through this tutorial, you will be asked questions that you will answer on the worksheet handed out in class and available for download (pdf file) within this tutorial. Answers to this worksheet will be available for download from the Resources section of the 7.02 web site.

Start with How to Use the BLAST Tutorial.