Similarity measures for generalized sequences

Hi,

I'm looking for a general advice regarding the comparison of sequences
(S). I mean not necessarily DNA sequences, however,
sequences like Region A is connected with Regions B (shortly A->B) and
then a distance or similarity measure that
allows to identify similiar sequences or paths. The regions are
alphanumerically coded like "Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis
anterior division".
Given are 10^2 to 10^7 different paths, searched are all there mutual
similiarities (e.g., similarity matrix) and a multivariate
classificartion like a dendrogram
based on a meaningful cluster analysis.

Example
Given:
S1: A->B->C->G
S2: A->B->F->G
S3: A->C->B->G
S4: A->B->D->G

Searched:
Similiarity matrix

     S1  S2  S3  S4
S1  ?    ?    ?    ?
S2  ?    ?    ?    ?
S3  ?    ?    ?    ?
S4  ?    ?    ?    ?

Then I would like to generate a dendrogram based on similarity measure:

S1--
        |--           
S2--     |
             |----
S3--     |
        |-- |       
S4--


Thanks a lot for any advices.

Regards,
Oliver

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fn:O. Schmitt
n:Schmitt;Oliver
org:University of Rostock;Department of Anatomy
adr:;;Gertrudenstr. 9;Rostock;M.V.;18055;Germany
email;internet:[email protected]
title:Prof. Dr.
tel;work:0049 381 494 8408
tel;fax:0049 381 494 8402
url:http://139.30.176.116/index.htm
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