The collection, storage, and analysis of DNA- and protein-sequence data using computerized systems. The data generated by genome projects and protein studies are held in various databanks and made available to researchers throughout the world via the Internet. Many computer programs have been developed to analyse sequence data, enabling the user to identify similarities between newly sequenced material and existing sequences. This allows, for example, predictions about the structure and function of a protein from its amino-acid sequence data or from the nucleotide sequence of its gene. Genome-wide sequence analysis of newly discovered organisms, especially bacteria or protists, indicates the array of proteins they are likely to manufacture, and therefore the kind of lifestyle they are likely to lead. Also, comparisons between genomes of different species provides information about their possible evolutionary relationships. See Feature. See also genomics.