How are sequences with known numbers of ‘n’ or ‘X’ residues between defined regions represented in a Sequence Listing XML?
According to MPEP 2412.05(e), sequences with known numbers of ‘n’ or ‘X’ residues between defined regions are represented as a single sequence in the Sequence Listing XML. The MPEP states:
“A nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence that contains regions of specifically defined residues separated by one or more regions of contiguous ‘n’ or ‘X’ residues, wherein the exact number of ‘n’ or ‘X’ residues in each region is disclosed, must be listed in the ‘Sequence Listing XML’ in the manner described in paragraph 36 of WIPO Standard ST.26.”
This means that when the number of undefined residues (‘n’ for nucleotides or ‘X’ for amino acids) is known and disclosed, the entire sequence, including both the defined regions and the regions of ‘n’ or ‘X’ residues, should be represented as a single sequence with its own sequence identifier in the Sequence Listing XML.
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