Finding chromosome centromeres using band pattern information

A method for finding centromeres of chromosomes using band pattern information only is described. Rather than using shape-related characteristics to identify the position of the centromere constriction, its position in relation to the band pattern is encoded into a structural band pattern model for each chromosome type individually. These models are automatically inferred from strings of symbols representing band pattern profiles. When used for analysis, a sample string is compared with a model from which the position in the string corresponding to the centromere can be derived. The approach is experimentally investigated with centromere finding both for class of the chromosomes known and unknown. A scheme for simultaneous centromere finding and classification is also proposed and tested on different band pattern representations with encouraging results.