Measuring pairwise distances among sequences of the miR-15/107 group of miRNA gene

Abstract

The miR-15/107 group of miRNA gene has been recognized as an important regulatory mechanism for main biochemical pathways in human. It has significant role to play in regulating gene expression that relevant to cardiovascular diseases, cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Notwithstanding the fact that miRNA has strong implication on human health, an exhaustive taxonomic classification for the miR-15/107 group is impossible because the phylogeny of this group is incomplete. This paper aims at measuring pairwise distances among sequences of the miR-15/107 group of miRNA gene. The distance function allows bioinformaticians to compare the sequence of miR-15/107 group of miRNA gene and predict its target sites.