Page "Consensus sequence" Paragraph 1

Developing software for pattern recognition is a major topic in genetics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.

Specific sequence motifs can function as regulatory sequences controlling biosynthesis, or as signal sequences that direct a molecule to a specific site within the cell or regulate its maturation.

Since the regulatory function of these sequences is important, they are thought to be conserved across long periods of evolution.

In some cases, evolutionary relatedness can be estimated by the amount of conservation of these sites.