The study of correlation structures of DNA sequences: a critical review

The study of correlation structure in the primary sequences of DNA is reviewed. The issues reviewed include: symmetries among 16 base-base correlation functions; accurate estimation of correlation measures; the relationship between 1/f and Lorentzian spectra; heterogeneity in DNA sequences; different modeling strategies of the correlation structure of DNA sequences; the difference of correlation structure between coding and non-coding regions (besides the period-3 pattern); and source of broad distribution of domain sizes. Although some of the results remain controversial, a body of work on this topic constitutes a good starting point for future studies. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.