What information is contained in the element of a Sequence Listing XML?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

The element in a Sequence Listing XML contains crucial information about the actual sequence. Here’s what it includes:

• The raw sequence data itself.
• It represents the order of nucleotides (for DNA/RNA) or amino acids (for proteins).
• The sequence is presented without spaces or numbers.

According to MPEP 2413.01, “The contains the raw sequence data.” This element is essential as it provides the core information about the biological sequence being disclosed in the patent application.