Skip to content

Algorithm DNA Pairing

Quincy Larson edited this page Aug 20, 2016 · 1 revision

Algorithm DNA Pairing

🚩 Remember to use Read-Search-Ask if you get stuck. Try to pair program 👥 and write your own code 📝

🏁 Problem Explanation:

  • You will get a DNA strand sequence and you need to get the pair and return it as a 2D array of the base pairs. Keep in mind that the provided strand should be first always.

Relevant Links

💬 Hint: 1

  • There are two base case, A-T and C-G, these go both way. You can use regular expression, if statements of anything that you can think of.

try to solve the problem now

💬 Hint: 2

  • I would recommend using a switch, as it makes things a lot smoother.

try to solve the problem now

💬 Hint: 3

  • The result must be an array of arrays, so keep that in mind when pushing things.

try to solve the problem now

Spoiler Alert!

687474703a2f2f7777772e796f75726472756d2e636f6d2f796f75726472756d2f696d616765732f323030372f31302f31302f7265645f7761726e696e675f7369676e5f322e676966.gif

Solution ahead!

🔰 Basic Code Solution:

function pairElement(str) {
  // Return each strand as an array of two elements, the original and the pair.
  var paired = [];

  // Function to check with strand to pair.
  var search = function(char) {
    switch (char) {
      case 'A':
        paired.push(['A', 'T']);
        break;
      case 'T':
        paired.push(['T', 'A']);
        break;
      case 'C':
        paired.push(['C', 'G']);
        break;
      case 'G':
        paired.push(['G', 'C']);
        break;
    }
  };

  // Loops through the input and pair.
  for (var i = 0; i < str.length; i++) {
    search(str[i]);
  }

  return paired;
}

// test here
pairElement("GCG");

🚀 Run Code

Code Explanation:

  • The program is very simple, the best solution that I have come up with is to use a switch to catch all the possible four elements. Using if statements would take too much code. You could also use Regular Expressions.
  • Since we have to the original and the pair, I decided to take all four cases instead of the base two.
  • Create an empty array and use the search function to push the right values to the array and return them.

Relevant Links

🌻 Intermediate Code Solution:

function pairElement(str) {
  //define a map object with all pair possibilities 
  var map = {T:'A', A:'T', G:'C', C:'G'};
  //split str into a char Array
  strArr = str.split('');
  //replace each Array item with a 2d Array using map
  for (var i=0;i<strArr.length;i++){
    strArr[i]=[strArr[i], map[strArr[i]]];
  }
 return strArr;
}

// test here
pairElement("GCG");

🚀 Run Code

Code Explanation:

  • First define an object with all pair possibilities, this allows us to easily find by key or value.
  • Split str into a characters array so we can use each letter to find its pair.
  • Use a loop to go throw the array of characters and replace each character by an array of the pair, thus creating 2d arrays.

Relevant Links

🏆 Credits:

If you found this page useful, you may say thanks to the contributors by copying and pasting the following line in the main chat:

Thanks @Rafase282 @sabahang for your help with Algorithm: DNA Pairing

📋 NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTIONS:

  • ⚠️ DO NOT add solutions that are similar to any existing solutions. If you think it is similar but better, then try to merge (or replace) the existing similar solution.
  • Add an explanation of your solution.
  • Categorize the solution in one of the following categories — Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. 🚥
  • Please add your username only if you have added any relevant main contents. (:warning: DO NOT remove any existing usernames)

See 👉 Wiki Challenge Solution Template for reference.

Clone this wiki locally