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May 2026 term · Algorithmic Thinking in Bioinformatics · BSBT4001

Algorithmic Thinking in Bioinformatics End Term: 13 September 2026, Set 1 (May 2026 term)

The IIT Madras BS Algorithmic Thinking in Bioinformatics (Algorithmic Thinking in Bioinformatics) End Term paper sat on 13 Sept 2026, in the May 2026 term, set 1: 14 questions for 44 marks in 180 minutes. Every question is below with its answer. Take it as a timed mock test to be marked, or read it through first.

Questions
14
Marks
44
Duration
180 min
MSQ
3
MCQ
7
Numerical
4
Take as mock testPractise with answers

Updated

Official paper: Algorithmic Thinking In Bioinformatics 13 Sep 26 (Session 2) · No negative marking.

Question 1

+4 marksOne or more correct options

Consider the following graphical representation of a circular genome (also known as a "genome graph") and answer the given subquestions with respect to the same.

Which of the following circular genomes correspond to this genome graph?

Select all that apply.

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
Show answer

Correct answers

  • A
  • B
Question 1 on its own page

Question 2

+3 marksOne correct option

Consider the following graphical representation of a circular genome (also known as a "genome graph") and answer the given subquestions with respect to the same.

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
Show answer

Correct answer

  • B
Question 2 on its own page

Question 3

+2 marksNumerical answer

Given below is the spectral convolution for a theoretical spectrum of a cyclic peptide, and answer the given subquestions.

What is the number of amino acids in the peptide? Assume every amino acid in the peptide is unique. Enter your answer as a single integer.

Show answer

Correct answer: 3

Question 3 on its own page

Question 4

+4 marksOne or more correct options

Given below is the spectral convolution for a theoretical spectrum of a cyclic peptide, and answer the given subquestions.

Use the integer masses of different amino acids from the figure given below to determine which of the following might be the corresponding peptide.

Select all that apply.

  1. A

    INK

  2. B

    NQK

  3. C

    ILN

  4. D

    NLQ

Show answer

Correct answers

  • A

    INK

  • D

    NLQ

Question 4 on its own page

Question 5

+3 marksOne correct option

Identify each of these first columns belong to which algorithm.

  1. A

    Algorithm I -- Randomized Motif Search, Algorithm II -- Gibbs Sampling

  2. B

    Algorithm I -- Gibbs Sampling, Algorithm II -- Randomized Motif Search

Show answer

Correct answer

  • B

    Algorithm I -- Gibbs Sampling, Algorithm II -- Randomized Motif Search

Question 5 on its own page

Question 6

+3 marksOne correct option

Given below is an excerpt of the DP table constructed for global alignment of the strings TCGGAG and CGCGG. Note that the DP table stores both the alignment score and the back pointer at every cell. Which of the following correctly represents the contents of the shaded cell?

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
Show answer

Correct answer

  • A
Question 6 on its own page

Question 7

+3 marksOne correct option
  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
Show answer

Correct answer

  • C
Question 7 on its own page

Question 8

+2 marksOne correct option

Which of the strings has ``N$OTUONMNO'' as its Burrows-Wheeler transform?

  1. A

    MOUNTNOON$

  2. B

    MOUNTOONN$

  3. C

    MOONTUNON$

  4. D

    NOONMOUNT$

Show answer

Correct answer

  • A

    MOUNTNOON$

Question 8 on its own page

Question 9

+3 marksNumerical answer
Show answer

Correct answer: 14

Question 9 on its own page

Question 10

+4 marksOne correct option
  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D

    None of these

Show answer

Correct answer

  • B
Question 10 on its own page

Question 11

+2 marksNumerical answer

You are studying the signaling pathway system of an alien world. Existing literature shows that information in the alien world is transmitted in the following procedure.
"A receptor protein in the cell membrane transmits information to a series of three kinase proteins that are sequentially activated inside the cell. The final activated kinase causes a transcription factor to get activated and translocated to the nucleus, wherein the TF protein regulates a target gene."
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.

Show answer

Correct answer: 2.55 (accepted within ±0.05)

Question 11 on its own page

Question 12

+3 marksOne or more correct options

Which of the following statements about the EM algorithm are TRUE

Select all that apply.

  1. A

    The E-step computes the posterior probabilities (expected values) of the latent variables given the current parameter estimates.

  2. B

    The M-step updates the parameters by maximizing the expected complete- data log-likelihood obtained from the E-step.

  3. C

    The E-step and M-step are iterated until the parameter estimates converge.

  4. D

    The EM algorithm is guaranteed to find the global maximum of the likelihood function.

Show answer

Correct answers

  • A

    The E-step computes the posterior probabilities (expected values) of the latent variables given the current parameter estimates.

  • B

    The M-step updates the parameters by maximizing the expected complete- data log-likelihood obtained from the E-step.

  • C

    The E-step and M-step are iterated until the parameter estimates converge.

Question 12 on its own pageAlso asked in End Term 13 Sept 2026

Question 13

+3 marksOne correct option

A genomics lab has two DNA sequencing machines, each with a different base-calling accuracy. For each sequencing run, one machine is randomly selected and used to sequence a 5-base read from a sample; each base is recorded as either C (correctly matches the reference genome) or E (erroneous base call, mismatches the reference). Consider the table below, which contains sample data from six sequencing runs, and answer the given subquestions with respect to the same.

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
Show answer

Correct answer

  • A
Question 13 on its own page

Question 14

+5 marksNumerical answer

A genomics lab has two DNA sequencing machines, each with a different base-calling accuracy. For each sequencing run, one machine is randomly selected and used to sequence a 5-base read from a sample; each base is recorded as either C (correctly matches the reference genome) or E (erroneous base call, mismatches the reference). Consider the table below, which contains sample data from six sequencing runs, and answer the given subquestions with respect to the same.

Show answer

Correct answer: 0.355 (accepted within ±0.025)

Question 14 on its own page