Patent ID: 6988039

Claim:
A method for determining whether an alignment score x, determined from the alignment of a first sequence with a second sequence, is statistically insignificant comprising the steps of: a. determining a threshold p-value, P th ; b. determining a first estimate of the p-value of said alignment score x, P(x|K N 1,K ,λ(j) N 1,λ + ), using the Island method wherein K N 1,K is determined using N 1,K islands, λ(j) N 1,λ + is determined using N 1,λ islands and j≧3; c. comparing P(x|K N 1,K ,λ(j) N 1,λ + ) to P th ; and d. if P(x|K N 1,K ,λ(j) N 1,λ + )>P th , determining said alignment score is statistically insignificant, otherwise, determining said alignment score may or may not be statistically insignificant.