PALM--a pattern language for molecular biology.

Abstract

This paper presents a new pattern language, PALM, for describing patterns in molecular biology sequences. The language is intended for representing knowledge about such patterns in a declarative, clear and concise way. It is also shown that its expressive power enables the definition of any regular or context free language, and also higher languages in the Chomsky hierarchy by parameter attachment, variables and procedural attachment. It is also possible to define approximate patterns. The language is rigorously defined, and several examples of its use and expressive power are given.