public long convertStringToLong(String seq) {
		seq = seq.toLowerCase();
		
		for(int i = 0; i < seq.length(); i++) {
			if(seq.charAt(i) == 'a') { // 00
				if(i == 0) {
					key = 0;
				} else {
						key = key << 2;
						key = key | 0;
				}
			}
			if(seq.charAt(i) == 'c') { // 01
				if(i == 0) {
					key = 1	;
				} else {
						key = key << 2;
						key = key | 1;
				}
			}
			if(seq.charAt(i) == 'g') { // 10
				if(i == 0) {
					key = 2;
				} else {
						key = key << 2;
						key = key | 2;
				}
			}if(seq.charAt(i) == 't') { // 11
				if(i == 0) {
					key = 3;
				} else {
						key = key << 2;
						key = key | 3;
				}
			}
		}
		return key;
	}